Julia Roberts has long been the embodiment of effortless charm and grace. Whether flashing her million-dollar smile on screen or dazzling on the red carpet, she’s one of those rare Hollywood figures whose mere presence can stop time. But back in 1999, that same magnetism ignited one of the most unexpected controversies in pop culture history — and it all started with a wave.
The scene was the London premiere of Notting Hill, a romantic comedy destined to become one of the decade’s defining films. Cameras flashed, fans screamed, and Roberts — already an A-list star thanks to Pretty Woman, My Best Friend’s Wedding, and Runaway Bride — floated down the red carpet in a glittering crimson Vivienne Tam dress.
But it wasn’t the gown that made headlines the next day.
As she lifted her arms to greet the cheering crowd, two small tufts of underarm hair peeked out — and within hours, the moment became one of the most talked-about images of the late ’90s.
“Hairy Woman!”: The Backlash That Followed
The reaction was swift — and merciless. The British press, infamous for its sensationalism, pounced with glee. Tabloids screamed with headlines like “Hairy Woman!”, “Beauty Becomes Beast!”, and the blunt, “Ewwwww.” It was 1999 — years before social media outrage cycles — yet the photo went global almost instantly, sparking debates, speculation, and even moral panic about what it meant for a glamorous woman to appear with visible body hair.
Was Julia Roberts making a statement? Was this a bold act of feminist rebellion? Or had she simply — gasp — forgotten to shave?
As absurd as it sounds today, the question lingered for months. At the time, Hollywood’s standards for femininity were far more rigid. Perfectly smooth legs and underarms were non-negotiable, and actresses were routinely scrutinized for every perceived flaw. Roberts, who was then 31, had just unintentionally broken one of the industry’s unspoken rules — and in doing so, she sparked a conversation that still feels relevant decades later.
Feminist Statement or Fashion Fluke?
The late ’90s were a time of cultural transition. Third-wave feminism was rising, the Spice Girls were spreading their “Girl Power” message, and more women in entertainment were beginning to openly question the beauty ideals that had dominated for generations.
That same year, Milla Jovovich appeared on a major magazine cover showing off her underarm hair — a deliberate statement meant to challenge expectations. So when Roberts appeared on the Notting Hill red carpet, many assumed she was doing the same.
Some hailed her as brave and progressive. Others called her unkempt or rebellious. The incident became so iconic that even decades later, people still discuss it as an early example of celebrity “authenticity” — long before that term became fashionable.
But as Julia Roberts later revealed, there was nothing calculated about the moment.
“The Picture Is Vivid in My Mind”
Almost twenty years later, during a 2018 appearance on Busy Tonight with actress and host Busy Philipps, Roberts was asked point-blank about that night.
“The picture is vivid in my mind, actually, from that moment,” she said, smiling at the memory. “I think I just hadn’t really calculated my sleeve length and the waving and how those two things would go together and reveal personal things about me. So it wasn’t so much a statement as it’s just part of the statement I make as a human on the planet for myself.”
Her explanation was simple — and disarmingly honest. She hadn’t intended to spark a movement or make a feminist declaration. She was just being herself.
Philipps admitted that, as a young woman, she’d viewed the image as a rebellious act. “When I was a younger woman, I kind of took it as a statement,” she said. “I thought it was really punk rock and cool.”
Roberts’ response captured what has always made her so enduringly relatable: a total lack of pretension. Even when she isn’t trying to make waves, she ends up doing so — just by being unapologetically Julia.
When Authenticity Becomes a Revolution
What’s fascinating about the “hairy armpit” moment is how it continues to resonate today, decades after it happened. In an era when conversations around body hair, gender expression, and natural beauty have become mainstream, Roberts’ unintentional gesture feels almost prophetic.
Celebrities like Amandla Stenberg, Halsey, Paris Jackson, and Bella Thorne have all publicly embraced their body hair in recent years, challenging beauty norms on red carpets, in photoshoots, and on social media. What once provoked outrage is now celebrated as a form of empowerment.
And though Roberts insists her moment was not deliberate, her image that night served as an early catalyst — a visual rebellion against perfection.
Cultural historian Dr. Rebecca Arnold, in her 2019 book on beauty and media representation, even described Roberts’ red-carpet appearance as “a transitional moment in Hollywood’s visual culture — where authenticity began to edge out artificial perfection.”
In that sense, Roberts’ “mistake” wasn’t just about body hair; it was about freedom — the freedom to exist in your natural state, without apology or explanation.
The Double Standard
What made the incident so scandalous wasn’t the hair itself, but the reaction to it. Male actors could show up with scruff, chest hair, or visible imperfections and be labeled rugged or charming. Yet when a woman — even one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars — appeared anything less than polished, it became a global talking point.
That double standard hasn’t disappeared, though it has evolved. Social media now magnifies both sides of the debate — empowering women to embrace their natural selves while still rewarding those who conform to traditional beauty ideals.
Roberts’ story reminds us how deeply ingrained these expectations are, and how revolutionary something as small as an unshaved underarm can become in the right (or wrong) spotlight.
A Moment That Still Inspires
Julia Roberts didn’t intend to start a cultural debate. But that’s exactly what happened. Her “scandalous” red carpet appearance turned into a conversation about autonomy, authenticity, and how women navigate the public gaze.
And perhaps the greatest irony of all is that it took no effort — no protest signs, no manifesto, no calculated statement. Just a wave, a smile, and a little bit of underarm hair.
Her humility about the moment only deepened the public’s love for her. Roberts went on to continue her reign as one of Hollywood’s most respected actresses, starring in critically acclaimed films like Erin Brockovich (for which she won an Oscar), Eat Pray Love, and Ticket to Paradise.
Two decades later, people still reference that Notting Hill premiere when discussing moments that redefined celebrity culture. It was raw, real, and undeniably human — proof that sometimes, authenticity is the most radical act of all.
The Legacy of an Accidental Statement
In hindsight, the uproar over Julia Roberts’ armpit hair feels almost quaint compared to today’s standards. Yet the fact that it caused such a stir speaks volumes about how women’s bodies were — and still are — policed in public spaces.
What’s remarkable is how Roberts handled it: with humor, honesty, and grace. She neither denied nor dramatized it, choosing instead to treat it as what it was — a small, human moment blown out of proportion.
And that’s why it endures. Because in a world obsessed with perfection, Julia Roberts reminded everyone that confidence doesn’t come from control — it comes from comfort in one’s own skin.
Her red carpet wave may have caused a scandal in 1999, but today, it stands as an early spark of authenticity in a world just beginning to rediscover the beauty of being real.
