M.I.A. Wears Burqa On Red Carpet (PHOTOS, POLL)

The always-provocative songstress M.I.A. wore a burqa of her own design on the red carpet at Saturday night's "Scream 2010" held by Spike TV in L.A. It appears that some of the lyrics from her song "XXXO" were printed on it.

For her performance, she changed into a yellow shirt, hot pink pants, green sneakers and a fluorescent blue wig.

What do you think about what she wore?

Quick Poll

M.I.A.'s burqa:

Cool, in an artsy way.

Offensive, to be honest.

Just silly.

Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll

1 of 14

1 of 15

First Slide

Previous Slide

@

Vogue Paris Wrinkles On Mag's Supplement Cover Are Awesome (PHOTO)

Paris Hilton Perfume Empire Gets New Fragrance, 'Dazzle'

Janice Dickinson: Anna Wintour Is Fake, Tyra Is 'Soulless' & More Gems

Hillary Clinton Pops Her Collar At Senate Committee Panel (PHOTOS)

Queen Elizabeth II's Royal Academy Of Arts Visit Had The Best Red Carpet (PHOTOS)

Tilda Swinton Covers Candy Magazine Wearing Actual Makeup (PHOTO)

comments(314)

Total comments: 314 | Post a Comment

1 of 15

Rate This Slide

Rank #2  |  Average: 4

Bad... RAD!

• 
  1
• 
  2
• 
  3
• 
  4
• 
  5
• 
  6
• 
  7
• 
  8
• 
  9
• 
  10

Current Top 5 Slides

loading...

Choose your Top 5 Slides

UserName

 | Become a fan

Picked These as the Top 5 Slides in the Slideshow

loading...

Top User Slides

← Prev|Next →

 | Become a fan

Picked These as the Top 5 Slides in the Slideshow

loading...

Users who voted on this slide

← Prev|Next →

loading...

Comments

[Musa 1400]

08:19 AM on 11/19/2010

An American woman who converted to Islam and chooses to wear the Niqab was shown these pictures and asked her opinion about the event. She considered it insulting, regardless of the intention why the singer wore it. She thought it a disgrace the way the singer behaved while wearing it, especially the part where she sticks up her middle finger. She explained that the Niqab is not just a form of dress but the manners that come with it as well.

[Musa 1400]

05:24 PM on 11/18/2010

The face veil where the eyes are still showing is called niqaab not burqah. Burqah is the whole cover with a screen for the eyes worn in Afghanistan. Its supposed to be un-enticing and not a fashion statement. Makeup around the eyes and really silky and shiny and decorative and colorful material that attracts takes away from the original intent.

[Musa 1400]

03:29 AM on 11/19/2010

Plus acting good is part of the Hijaab or Niqaab. It contradicts the Hijaab to act out like a crazy woman and flick people off for the fun of it and be loud and obnoxious and flirtatious and do stuff to attract non-related mens' gazes while wearing it and all that stuff.

[Vlady]

03:02 PM on 11/01/2010

>>burqa of her own design on the red carpet

always a good idea to embrace for artists of repulsive appearance

[maigrey]

07:56 PM on 10/26/2010

She's covered what could people possibly complain about!

[Ergon]

02:31 PM on 10/25/2010

At last! Back when the whole controversy broke out in France, I called on Paris fashion houses to do a niqab show, just to um, be different? Or ONE of the crop of 'edgy' female singers to do something, er, brilliant?
And it turns out to be M.I.A.
Well, I'm not surprised. A political statement, and a musical talent!

[stormborn]

09:12 AM on 10/21/2010

It's more interesting than a meat dress.

[Musa 1400]

05:45 PM on 11/18/2010

The niqab is meant to ward off predators --- the meat dress attracts predators --- I don't recommend to anyone to wear a meat dress in the middle of the African Savannah.

[DaisyDooks]

08:07 PM on 10/20/2010

I like this girl's spunk. She uses her artistry to make a statement. I ain't mad at her. For once, it's refreshing to a female 'covered up' for a change.

[pleasantlyvague]

03:48 PM on 10/20/2010

I'm not sure why this is an issue for anyone. I don't know why anyone would consider it offensive. I don't know why anyone in the US would have an issue with it. What, since woman have the freedom to run around in bikinis, they should choose to dress as scantily as possible every chance they get?

There's a huge level of discrimination going on in the US right now against basically all things tied to Islam and the Middle East. Personally, I don't believe it's right for the law to require women to cover themselves in public, but I think if a woman chooses to do so on an individual level, for whatever reason, that's her deal. Here's talking to you, France.

There are many American christians who have quite conservative standards of how a woman should dress. Do we care? No. But we care about what the Muslims do because it's somehow inherently sooooo much more offensive and threatening. Lady Gaga covered herself entirely in red lace. You couldnt even see her eyes. Did anyone call that offensive? Not really.

It saddens me that something like this gets so much attention.

[Aida Dalati]

10:59 PM on 10/19/2010

Get the fashion fact right, this is what one calls a Niqab, Burqas are somthing found only in Afghanistan that has the screan like section for your eyes to look out of. FYI Syria has band the niqab on the streets of Damascus eight weeks ago.

[Shadow Weaver]

09:34 AM on 10/19/2010

the best part is the double 'Mia' in the design... but, overall... it strikes me as post-modernist rehashing and taking someone else's spiritual, and/or, meaningful abstract - mangling it to one's self purpose (the MIA print, really topped it) - and considering it... anything.

[nomadsborker]

09:05 AM on 10/19/2010

Hardly provocative and very predictable from a no talent looking to shock in order to maintain some sort of relevance.

As if Islam isn't already image challenged, this sure doesn't help.

[ValuedCustomer]

07:53 AM on 10/19/2010

after much hype (and free ticket) I saw her at La Zona Rosa in Austin years ago.. I think it was even sold out. awful. it wasn't just boring it was annoying. she's like an "edgy" Janet Jackson. how or why she's still on some's radar I haven't a clue.

[MihaelaM]

04:46 AM on 10/19/2010

As far as attention seeking goes, M.I.A. is still way more profound than, say, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry etc.
As for music, well, she's the only musician in the group.

[JD Hobbs]

11:33 PM on 10/19/2010

MIA's drapery elevates Lady Gaga's meat dress to a profound level of political statement.

[Brian Gorrell]

01:39 AM on 10/19/2010

Never heard of her until her water breaking inducing preggo performance.
Then the ginger massacre video.
And now this.
Why?

[grange]

08:23 AM on 10/19/2010

because she is awesome ?

Check out 'paper planes' on youtube

[Brian Gorrell]

09:10 PM on 10/19/2010

I agree.
She is totally awesome.
I was just saying, why are people surprised?
This is her thing.

[Brian Gorrell]

09:10 PM on 10/19/2010

btw- paper planes is beyond amazing

[anastasiabeaverhousen]

09:15 PM on 10/18/2010

I would have preferred she just went MIA