In her first performance since announcing her pregnancy, Katy Perry cultivated and celebrated female empowerment on International Women’s Day. Taking to the stage in Australia’s Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Katy provided the pre-match entertainment for the International Cricket Council T20 World Cup, performing her #1 hits “Roar” and “Firework”.
The T20 World Cup placed the Australian and Indian female cricket teams in the spotlight. Combined with the star power of Katy Perry, the event broke the record for the highest ever attendance for a women’s sporting event in Australia as 86, 174 fans packed the MCG. What a way to mark International Women’s Day 2020!
With an all female cast taking to the field alongside Katy, girl power was evident. The popstar wore costumes in vibrant shades of pink and purple that were branded with the Venus symbol. Hundreds of young girls joined Katy on the field mid-performance, carrying signs that read “GRL PWR,” before forming the Venus symbol as a unified group.
Reminiscent of the famous Left Shark at the Superbowl, Katy also found a way to highlight the sport in question, whilst showcasing her quirky style, humour and authenticity. Proving once again to be the queen of bringing inanimate objects to life, Katy’s dancers were larger than life (and rather glamorous) cricket bats. Obsessed.
Let the fireworks begin 🎇🎵#T20WorldCup | #FILLTHEMCG pic.twitter.com/IzGjo9wkML
— ICC (@ICC) March 8, 2020
Look if a concert doesn’t have dancing cricket bats and girls forming #iwd symbols then I’m not interested. That was pretty epic. #katyperry #T20WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/ce8Ua4cAao
— Laurel Irving (@laurelirving7) March 8, 2020
https://twitter.com/AlisonMitchell/status/1236544539856420865
SHOTGUN BEING THE SEXY CRICKET BAT FOR HALLOWEEN THIS YEAR. #T20WorldCupFinal #KatyPerry https://t.co/vkpS91YKDZ
— Grace Frick. (@Frickwit) March 8, 2020
Fans were also treated to a longer set from Katy once the cricket match concluded. Performing “Teenage Dream”, “Wide Awake” and everything in between, the popstar’s baby bump was visible as she danced on stage and let fans in on a little secret… she hopes her baby is a girl!
‘I hope it’s a girl’ 🥺 pic.twitter.com/qKTaqujknW
— chantal 🌼 (@katys_daisies) March 8, 2020
To conclude the empowering event, Katy invited the Australian cricket team on stage to dance, sing and celebrate their win as she sang “Firework” for the second time. Seeing female sporting heroes and one of the biggest female artists in the world unite to celebrate their incredible talent, strength and achievements on International Women’s Day is inspiring. Knowing that young girls all around the country, and the world, can look up to these women solidifies the fact that the future is female and women can achieve anything.