‘The Color Purple’ star welcomed poodle Tinker Bell in Charlotte, pairing the sweet reveal with a bold hairstyle and colorful offstage look.
ByBernadette Giacomazzo
October 1, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Fantasia debuted a short, swept hairstyle and oversized sunglasses on Instagram while introducing Tinker Bell, her second poodle from Fiona Grace Kennels.
- The singer has not addressed speculation about weight-loss drugs, but she previously credited diet, cardio, strength training, and hot yoga for helping her lose 20 pounds without “taking shortcuts or going under the knife.”
- The American Idol winner most recently reprised her Broadway role as Celie in the 2023 musical film The Color Purple.
Fantasia had a new addition to introduce, and the announcement came with a new look. The singer shared an Instagram post after picking up her second poodle at an airport in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Tuesday, September 29.
Wearing oversized black sunglasses and her short hair swept across her forehead, the American Idol winner posed with the puppy pressed against her cheek. Her caption introduced them: “Now we have Lola and Tinker Bell.”
The airport pickup also captured Fantasia’s offstage style. She wore a color-block jacket with green sleeves, orange accents, and pale blue detailing, with a patterned shoulder bag and a white kennel tote.
Her new puppy, meanwhile, arrived dressed in red. “I’m so excited I picked up my second baby from @fionagracekennels at the airport today in Charlotte, North Carolina,” she wrote.
The caption mentioned a flight from Texas and explained that this was her second poodle from the breeder. “I called immediately and said bring her to me ASAP,” she added. “She’s worth every penny.”
While some fans have speculated that Fantasia is using a weight-loss drug, the singer and actress has not publicly addressed the speculation. But since winning American Idol in 2004, Fantasia has frequently addressed what it takes to navigate those expectations, including during a November 2016 interview with Peopleabout losing 20 pounds.
“In the industry I am in, you have the pressure of perfection — and I definitely gained a few pounds,” she said. At the time, she described making changes to her diet and exercise routine with help from Urban Skin Solutions’ medical weight-loss program.
That earlier effort involved regular workouts and a diet emphasizing protein and fewer carbohydrates, according to the program’s owner, Rachel Roff. “Fantasia is a fitness junkie,” Roff told People. “She loves hot yoga, and she has a trainer that she works out with on a regular basis that incorporates cardio and strength training.”
Fantasia credited the program with helping her “look better and feel better without taking shortcuts or going under the knife.” Her takeaway was direct: “I have lost the weight, and I feel great!”
In the years between those updates, Fantasia brought one of her defining stage roles to the big screen. She starred as Celie in the 2023 musical film The Color Purple, returning to a character she first played on Broadway in 2007.
The role extended a career that began with an Idol victory, a No. 1 debut on the Billboard Hot 100 for “I Believe,” and a platinum debut album, Free Yourself.
