THE RUNDOWN
SZA is back. The artist returns to the Grammy Awards tonight as a nominee across several major categories. Although she wasn’t spotted on the red carpet, she was seen in the audience during the ceremony broadcast. During one skit, she appeared behind Trevor Noah and Bad Bunny, wearing a plunging red gown with floral embroidery.
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Eventually made her way to the stage to accept the award for Record of the Year for “Luther” with Kendrick Lamar and producers Sounwave, Jack Antonoff, and more.
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At this year’s ceremony, SZA was nominated across five categories, including Song of the Year for “luther,” Best Melodic Rap Performance for “luther,” Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Crybaby,” and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “30 For 30.”
Fashion has been a more selective—yet very intentional—part of SZA’s public presence lately. Earlier this month, she made a rare return to the fashion week circuit, attending the men’s shows in Paris for Louis Vuitton and Dior. Her stylish front-row appearances featured tailored blazers and crisp button-downs, offering a refined take on menswear dressing.
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SZA at the Dior show during men’s fashion week in Paris.
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She also attended the Louis Vuitton show.
Onstage, SZA has also continued to use her wardrobe as an extension of performance. During Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show last year, she appeared in a monochromatic red look that included a Born x Raised leather jacket and lace-up leather pants. At last year’s Grammys, she skipped the carpet but was later spotted inside the venue sporting a baby pink sequin-embellished dress.
Despite her outward confidence, SZA reflected on the emotional reality of being in the spotlight in a 2023 ELLE interview. “Some people think that, like, me having anxiety or me being shy or struggling with self-esteem is an act,” she said. “Everybody else has feelings and fears. Why wouldn’t I be scared to be famous?”
