When Ayra Starr first burst onto the scene in 2021 with her self-titled EP and the breakout single “Away,” she wasn’t just introducing a new sound. She was introducing a look, and the image stuck.
Mini skirts. Crop tops. Blonde hair. Knee-high boots. The silhouette was so distinctive that even Burna Boy got trolled for dressing like her when he donned a crop top. Starr, who was in on the joke, famously replicated his outfit on Instagram. She had, in the span of months, become a visual brand recognizable from a single glance.
But then, she switched it up, and the internet once again had opinions.
The ‘Sabi Girl’ Years: Y2K, Rebellion, and the Rise of a Visual Brand
Ayra Starr’s early aesthetic was pure Gen-Z Y2K nostalgia, filtered through a distinctly Nigerian lens. Crop tops, mini skirts, combat boots, and funky sneakers defined her 2021-2022 era. Her debut album, 19 & Dangerous, told the story of a modern African teenager navigating challenges and expectations. Her clothes told the same story: fresh, bold, and defiant.
Her 2021 music video for “Bloody Samaritan” marked her first major hair statement: long, ginger-coloured cornrows. The look became a viral sensation and set the tone for her willingness to take risks. She cemented her “Gen-Z ambassador” status with teeny shorts, micro skirts, and cutout tops, often paired with the now-signature thigh-high boots.
This was rebellious fashion, especially because she did it for the admittedly Nigerian audience and it worked for her. She had become one of the internet’s favourite punchlines because everyone recognized the look.
The Transition: Finding Her Footing on the Global Stage
By 2023, her style began to mature. It was the year she turned 21, and her wardrobe began to reflect that shift. She refined her look, swapping out some of the street-inspired pieces for high-end designers.
She still wore mini skirts and crop tops while performing, but red carpets and high-profile events demanded something more. At the 2024 Grammys, she stunned in a hand-beaded turquoise JÉBLANC two-piece—a clear departure from the schoolgirl mini skirts that had defined her earlier career. This was a star dressing for the global stage, not just the Lagos scene.
The “Madame Starr” era had begun. A honey-brown wig, elegant curls, and a golden glow became her signature as she appeared on The Tonight Show and walked through Paris Fashion Week.
The Present: Refined, Architectural, and Unmistakably Her
By late 2025, Ayra Starr’s style had undergone a full transformation. The shift, which took hold with the help of her new stylist Elly Karamoh, prioritized structured silhouettes, luxurious textures, and a deliberate nod to vintage glamour.
The silhouettes changed. Gone were the linear micro-mini skirts. In their place: dramatic tailoring, peplum waists, flared hems, and corsetry that added sculptural dimension to her frame. At the 2025 VMAs, she wore an all-black look of alternating leather and sheer mesh bands stitched into a bandeau-meets-armour silhouette. It was edgy, futuristic, and gave warrior princess energy. It was a far cry from the girl in the crop top and boots.
The textures evolved. Ayra introduced luxurious furs and shearling coats into her rotation, often layering an oversized fluffy coat over a sleek dress. It was a move that screamed classic diva. This “mob wife” aesthetic showed she was comfortable taking up space.
The colour palette deepened. The signature blonde shifted to deep, rich dark tresses, often styled in vintage-inspired waves or sleek 1960s updos. Her clothing palette moved toward chocolate browns, deep reds, timeless blacks, and classic prints like houndstooth.
And yet, she kept the whimsy. The hair bow emerged as a signature accessory, a coquettish detail that softened her more powerful silhouettes and maintained a connection to her youthful, playful roots.
At the 2026 Grammys, she walked the red carpet in a custom sheer black deep-V gown by Nicola Bacchilega. The look was bold, channelling a similar sheer energy to Bianca Censori’s viral moment. But where Censori’s was confrontational, Starr’s felt controlled, sophisticated. The silhouette was clean, the styling intentional. Styled by Elly Karamoh, with jewelry by Nigerian brand Akano Diamonds, it was a proud statement of global African excellence.
The Bigger Picture: A Woman Growing Into Herself
The debate online about her style changes misses the point. Ayra Starr is not dressing for us. She is dressing for the woman she is becoming. Her style evolution reflects a deliberate journey—from the teenager singing about the challenges of growing up in Africa to a 23-year-old global star who walks the Met Gala in Ozwald Boateng and is reportedly exploring acting, writing, and directing.
She is doing what every young woman does: shedding the skin of her teenage years and stepping into something more considered, more powerful, more hers.
The critics may have wanted to keep her frozen in that “Sabi Girl” silhouette. But the thing about evolution is that it does not ask for permission. And the more Ayra Starr refines her look, the clearer her message becomes: she belongs at the big players’ table, and she will dress like it.
