Pop Stars Flaunt Cigarettes, Reigniting Smoking Debate in Music Culture

As of November 17th, 2025, pop music culture is seeing a resurgence of smoking among female superstars. US singer Sabrina Carpenter recently posted a series of Instagram photos where she is seen leaning over a sink, cigarette in hand, wearing a corset made entirely of cigarette packs. The photos have garnered over 2 million likes.

In her new music video for "Manchild," Carpenter is also shown casually taking a drag on a cigarette. British singer Charli XCX has also been embracing the smoking aesthetic, posing as a smoker to promote her 2024 album "Brat." In a BBC interview, Charli XCX said all you need to embody the "Brat" look is "a top without a bra, a lighter and - of course - a pack of smokes."

According to pop music expert Christoph Jacke, the cigarette has long been a "cultural constant" in pop music, sometimes more visible than others. He suggests the current trend may be a form of self-empowerment, with female artists reclaiming the cigarette as a symbol of strength, despite the known health risks. The tobacco industry has historically targeted young people, including women and girls, with its marketing, and experts warn that social media exposure to smoking content can double the odds of tobacco use among youth.