Halle Bailey’s ESPYs Dress Had A Subtle Nod To ‘Little Mermaid’

For the primary time, Halle Bailey was a presenter on the ESPYs, quick for Excellence in Sports activities Efficiency Yearly Award, which came about on Thursday, July 11.

This annual awards present, introduced by ESPN, is to acknowledge particular person and workforce athletic achievement and different sports-related efficiency all year long. A few of the notable winners on the 2024 ESPYs embrace Simone Biles, who took house the Comeback Athlete award, Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers for Greatest MLB Participant, and Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs for Greatest NFL Participant.

Whereas the evening centered on sports activities, followers could not assist however discover Halle Bailey’s costume, which had a delicate nod to “The Little Mermaid” character, Ariel.

The actress introduced out her flirty aspect as she confirmed off her physique in a black velvet minidress dazzled with its gold flower-shaped bra particulars and a captivating little cutout on the bodice. Her look was accomplished with a pair of strappy black heels and gold flower earrings.

Forward of the ESPYs, Bailey advised WWD that she “wished to put on one thing that makes me really feel nice in my very own pores and skin, particularly on this new part of my life,” referring to turning into a mother.

The costume is from Raisa Vanessa’s fall 2024 ready-to-wear assortment. Whereas it matches Bailey’s physique completely, many are mentioning the delicate nod to Ariel, the character she portrayed within the live-action Disney film “The Little Mermaid.”

The actress and singer shared images from her time on the sports activities award present, and her followers instantly caught onto the “Little Mermaid” nod.

“Ariel!” one Instagram consumer commented, including three heart-eyed emojis, as one other merely shared a GIF of Bailey because the mermaid. For individuals who do not see it, look intently on the gold on the costume — that portion resembles Ariel’s seashell bra.

“Nonetheless reaping the little mermaid,” a 3rd consumer identified.

Others complimented Halle Bailey’s stylist. “Stylist by no means misses, omg,” one in every of her followers stated. One other wrote, “I beloved this entire look and match.”

“You simply do it for me each single time, Halle,” another person stated.

Disney solid Halle Bailey to play Ariel within the live-action adaptation, however she quickly confronted backlash over her race. Regardless of the criticism, she remained decided to interrupt limitations and make her mark.

“I need the little lady in me and the little ladies identical to me who’re watching to know that they’re particular and that they need to be a princess in each single means,” Bailey advised Variety. “There’s no motive that they shouldn’t be. That reassurance was one thing that I wanted.”

Forward of the premiere, Halle Bailey wished to ship a message to all her youthful followers who’ve by no means seen themselves as their favourite princesses.

“I hope that they only know that they’re worthy, and we need to be in these areas, “Bailey advised “Good Morning America” when on the crimson carpet for the world premiere of the live-action “The Little Mermaid.” “And I hope they see themselves and me on the display.”

“I am simply grateful to be right here. There have been girls earlier than me like Brandy and Anika Rose who had been the blueprint for me even to be right here as we speak, so I am simply taking this second all in,” she later advised the ABC present.

The “The Colour Purple” actress welcomed her first child in December 2023 with DDG, however she did not publicly announce the delivery of Halo till January.

“Though we’re just a few days into the brand new yr, the best factor that 2023 may have performed for me was convey me my son,” Bailey shared on social media on the time. “Welcome to the world, my Halo. The world is determined to know you.”

Hallie Bailey later shared her postpartum journey with the general public in hopes of serving to others who could also be struggling.

“I simply wished to talk a bit of bit about my postpartum journey as a brand new mother,” the actress said in a video on her social media. “I’ve extreme, extreme postpartum [depression], and I do not know if any new mothers can relate, but it surely’s to the purpose the place it is actually dangerous, and it is laborious for me to be separated from my child for greater than half-hour at a time earlier than I begin to type of freak out.”