Tate McRae Gets Vulnerable About Being ‘Scrutinized’ and ‘Sexualized’ for Provocative Outfits That Empower Her

Tate McRae defines confidence.

The Canadian pop star, 22, opened up about wearing suggestive outfits that make her feel empowered despite what others think, when speaking with Rolling Stone as the January 2026 cover star.

The topic surrounding her fashion choices arose when McRae discussed “Purple Lace Bra,” a hit off her third studio album, So Close to What, that’s about how wearing provocative clothes that make her feel confident and empowered can lead to being shamed by the media.

“People always want girls to put themselves out there. And the second they do, they get ripped apart for it,” McRae told Rolling Stone in the interview published on Thursday, Dec. 11.

The “Greedy” singer went on to pinpoint an example where she felt defeated by public perception, despite her positive feelings about her work prior to its release. She said she was baffled that women are still facing these challenges compared to men.

“I was feeling sexual and confident for the first time in my life, and then I would release something and feel sexualized, and feel like all of my work and effort was taken away from me,” she recalled. “The scrutiny towards women is getting worse and worse.”

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McRae added, “It’s just wild that people pay so much attention to us girls for little things that a man wouldn’t be scrutinized for… And they’re not thinking about the great things that are happening onstage.”

“They’re not thinking about their vocals, or the way that they’re performing or putting themselves out there or being vulnerable, spreading a very specific message,” she continued. “They’re thinking about what shorts they’re wearing, or what their makeup looks like, and that’s annoying.”

However, the “Nobody’s Girl” singer — who posed in several designer bikinis and one Playboy bunny-like outfit for the Rolling Stone cover shoot — is not influenced by the critics.

In fact, she always looks forward to performing “Purple Lace Bra” at shows, particularly the line in the bridge: “You only listen when I’m undressed.”

“I see the girls in the front row screaming that,” McRae told the outlet. “It gives me full-body chills because I’m just like, ‘Oh, we’re all experiencing this. This is not just me. It’s everybody who feels this frustrating feeling that it’s gone on for so fucking long’.”

The upcoming year is an exciting one for McRae, who has potential to win her first-ever Grammy Award. In November, she earned her first nod in the best dance pop recording category for “Just Keep Watching,” her hit off the F1 movie soundtrack album.

This year, meanwhile, has been a significant one for the multi-talented performer.

Her third studio album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, her collab with Morgan Wallen was a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and she headlined a sold-out Miss Possessive Tour with venues including Madison Square Garden.

McRae was named Variety‘s 2025 “Powerhouse of the Year.”