Beyoncé’s Short Bob Haircut Feels Like 2003 Again

It’s not hard to break the internet when you’re Beyoncé; we’ve seen her do it time and time again, whether she’s dropping secret albums in the middle of the night or announcing a new tour. But sometimes a simple hairstyle change is enough to move the needle. Take the singer’s latest look, a swingy Parisian bob, which just debuted on Instagram.

At an intimate Super Bowl celebration, the Grammy winner poses in a long olive trench and matching handbag, showing off her new, shorter style. Throughout the carousel, she reveals not just her outfit underneath (a cream off-the-shoulder top and hunter green leggings), but also the full effect of her bob.

True to form, the look features the signature honey-blonde color she’s known for. Her darker roots melt into the warm shade, pairing perfectly with a deep middle part. Still, this isn’t your average chin-length bob. Instead of being sleek, it has body; instead of one blunt length, the below-the-chin cut features subtle layers that frame her face.

Seeing it, I can’t help but recall the first time I saw Beyoncé with a bob. The year was 2003, and the video was for her single “Me, Myself and I.” During a series of events that lead her to the realization behind the song’s title, she chops her hair into an on-trend asymmetrical bob. As she belts out the lyrics, the cut steals the show, bouncing as she walks down the street.

In the years since, we’ve seen Beyoncé wear a bob only a handful of times. The asymmetric style returned during the “Drunk in Love” era, and she sported a fluffy Marilyn Monroe–inspired look in a campaign for her whiskey line, SirDavis. But few versions have felt as nostalgic as this one. The sharp asymmetry has been swapped for a softly coiffed shape, yet the effect is just as effortless and chic.

Her bob may be new, but her energy remains the same. In true Beyoncé fashion, she shifts the conversation. Just as super-long lengths are dominating red carpets and feeds alike, she’s cutting hers off.