Zara Larsson has released the music video for her new single “Pretty Ugly,” presenting a bold and chaotic visual that complements the track’s energetic and defiant tone. The song, co-written with MNEK, Helena Gao, and Margo Wildman, channels 1990s house influences with a driving electronic beat and a shouting, chanting chorus. Larsson uses the track to confront societal expectations placed on women, particularly the pressure to conform to a “ladylike” image, flipping the narrative by embracing what is often labelled as “ugly” behaviour in women.
In “Pretty Ugly,” Larsson sings lines like “Everybody’s telling me to sit there and look pretty… fuck the ladylike / Want a crazy life,” before the chorus asks, “Have you ever seen a pretty girl get ugly like this?” This lyrical content pushes against conventional norms, reflecting Larsson’s ongoing commitment to feminist themes and personal empowerment in her music.
The accompanying video, directed by Charlotte Rutherford and choreographed by Zoi Tatopoulos, visually amplifies this message. It opens with Larsson driving a vintage VW Beetle to a field, where she activates a massive wall of speakers. The scene quickly escalates into a wild, mud-caked dance sequence with a group of women, symbolizing the shedding of polished appearances and embracing raw, untamed energy. This imagery reinforces the song’s theme of breaking free from restrictive expectations and celebrating unapologetic self-expression.
“Pretty Ugly” serves as the lead single from Zara Larsson’s upcoming fifth studio album, slated for release later this year. The track and video mark her first new music since October and precede her supporting role on Tate McRae’s North American Miss Possessive Tour. Zara Larsson’s career, which began with her winning Sweden’s Got Talent at age 10, has been marked by international hits like “Lush Life” and the widely acclaimed collaboration “Symphony” with Clean Bandit. Her recent work, including the 2024 album Venus and the single “Memory Lane,” has continued to showcase her ability to blend catchy pop with substantive themes.
While some listeners on platforms like Reddit’s /r/popheads have expressed mixed feelings about the song’s chorus or its stylistic choices, many acknowledge Larsson’s strong vocal performance and the track’s bold message. The blend of nostalgic house elements with contemporary pop production situates “Pretty Ugly” within a broader trend of artists revisiting and reinterpreting 90s dance sounds while addressing modern themes.