Tyla Recreates Britney Spears's Iconic VMAs Look at Coachella 2025

Tyla Channels Britney Spears’s Iconic 2001 VMAs Look at Coachella Weekend 2

Y2K fashion takes center stage once again as Tyla channels Britney Spears’s legendary “I’m a Slave 4 U” look at Coachella.

On Friday, April 18, Tyla turned heads at Coachella Weekend 2 by stepping into pop culture history with a bold, nostalgic fashion choice that instantly called back to Britney Spears’s iconic 2001 VMAs performance. The South African hitmaker, who has been making waves globally with her single “Water,” brought a modern twist to the Y2K era’s most memorable moment — right on the Outdoor Stage in Indio, California.

Dressed in a green and purple bra top, bedazzled ultra-low-rise denim shorts adorned with tassels, and layered body jewelry, Tyla's look bore a striking resemblance to Spears’s unforgettable ensemble from the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards — minus the albino python.

A Nod to One of Pop’s Most Defining Fashion Moments

Back in 2001, Britney Spears captivated MTV audiences with her “I’m a Slave 4 U” performance, complete with jungle-inspired glam and, of course, the now-legendary snake. While Tyla left the reptile at home, the styling parallels were unmistakable — from the shimmering midriff to the bold accessories and even the belly button piercing, the homage was subtle yet striking.

Tyla finished the look with two distinct footwear choices during her set: zebra-print booties followed by knee-high brown boots, showing off her stylistic range while still nodding to the performance aesthetics of the early 2000s.

Making the Look Her Own

While comparisons to Spears are inevitable, Tyla made the outfit uniquely hers. Her signature long, flowing waves replaced Britney’s tousled updo, and instead of heavy bronzer and body glitter, Tyla added a futuristic edge with magenta eye shadow and minimalist face jewels — an elegant update on a maximalist original.

Though she hasn’t confirmed whether her look was a direct tribute, the similarities are too precise to ignore. It’s a full-circle moment for a new generation of pop stars raised on Y2K MTV magic.

Coachella’s Ongoing Y2K Revival

Tyla’s performance fits seamlessly into Coachella’s larger Y2K fashion resurgence this year, seen in everything from low-rise silhouettes and metallics to butterfly clips and tinted sunglasses. Festival-goers and celebrities alike have embraced the early aughts aesthetic with updated takes on archival pieces — and Tyla just proved that the 2000s pop icon wardrobe is officially back in rotation.

Why It Matters

Moments like this underline how Gen Z artists are reviving and reinterpreting iconic fashion moments for a new era. With Tyla emerging as both a style star and vocal powerhouse, her sartorial choices hold weight — and her decision to mirror a look that once defined peak pop stardom signals her arrival as a major force in both music and fashion.

Whether intentional or not, Tyla’s Coachella ensemble offered a stylish reminder of the past while boldly carving out her own place in the future of pop culture.

Stay tuned to The Horizons Times for more from Coachella 2025 and the trendsetting moments that define this generation’s style narrative.