Mariah Carey's Inappropriate Outfit At The 2017 Kids' Choice Awards Was A Major Mistake
As one of the music industry's most iconic divas, Mariah Carey always makes a statement when she steps out. From the bouncy curls and sultry LBDs that characterized her 1990s era, to the sexy yet refined vibe she's channeled during the 2020s, Carey has had some iconic fashion moments. However, over her 35-year career, Mariah Carey has sported her fair share of inappropriate outfits. After all, nobody is immune to the occasional fashion fail — even a five-time Grammy winner like Carey. Take her look at the 2017 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, for example.
Frazer Harrison/Getty
Carey took to the orange carpet with ex-husband Nick Cannon and their twins Roe and Roc, who were 5 years old at the time. Carey wore a navy blue Adidas zip-up minidress, accessorizing with an over-the-top amount of bling — including a thick diamond chain necklace, diamond hoop earrings, and a pair of rhinestone-covered heels. The "Obsessed" singer coordinated her look with daughter Roe, even styling her blond waves into two high ponytails to match. But Carey's form-fitting play on athleisure wasn't the hit she thought it would be. The zipper on the dress was pulled scandalously low, and its hemline didn't leave much to the imagination. While Carey looked great — and it was cute that she matched with her daughter — the singer's sexy 'fit was just a bit too much for a child-friendly event.
Mariah Carey gravitates towards dramatic glam with lots of bling, for better or for worse
From Mariah Carey's weight-loss transformation to the return of Mariah Carey's Y2K hair, the "Fantasy" singer has switched up her look quite a bit over the years. In the 2010s — evidenced by her inappropriate Kids' Choice Awards look — Carey often opted for outfits with a low neckline. While Carey didn't usually style athleisure in this era, the singer's 2017 KCA Adidas minidress was still uber sexy, body-conscious, and quintessentially Carey. Just one year prior, Carey shirked time-and-place expectations with another chest-baring outfit at an event honoring the UN Secretary-General. Rather than a tracksuit-minidress, Carey donned a leather jacket zipped down to fully reveal her lacy black bra underneath. The look would have been stunning for a night at the club, but, for a United Nations event, became an example of another Carey 'fit that didn't quite fit the brief.
Jason Laveris/Getty
But, throughout the 2020s, Carey has elevated her trademark sexy, glamorous, and bling-heavy style by combining it with timeless silhouettes that flatter her figure. During her "The Celebration of Mimi" Las Vegas residency and international tour in 2024 and 2025, Carey brought tons of sparkle to her looks, reigned in by elegant dress shapes and daring necklines. The singer wore a variety of rhinestone-covered dresses to her shows in Shanghai, which ranged in color from bright pink and soft green to a glittery LBD that was totally '90s Carey.
On the MusiCares Person of the Year red carpet in January 2026, Carey kept the glamorous vibes going in a sheer black off-the-shoulder gown complete with subtle floral appliqués and a see-through bustier. Carey, MusiCares' 2026 honoree, paired the dress with some of her trademark bling, an ever-present aspect of the icon's style.