Thanks to her face-shielding black-and-blond wig, it’s almost impossible to not recognize Sia when she walks a red carpet or makes a TV appearance. But when the wig comes off and the sweats go on, it’s a different story. Sia was photographed heading in to L.A.X. on Thursday morning looking very unlike the Sia she usually presents to the public. She showed off her natural blond hair and opted for a nude-colored Kenzo sweatsuit and white sneakers. She probably could have gone undetected if it weren’t for the swarm of photographers blowing her cover.
Since debuting her wig in 2014 to coincide with her album 1000 Forms of Fear, Sia has rarely shown her whole face to the public (though sometimes nature takes things into its own hands). She told James Corden during her “Carpool Karaoke” appearance in February 2016 that she only wears the wig when there are cameras around, adding, “I only wear this to try and maintain a modicum of privacy.”
In April 2014, The New York Times dubbed Sia the “Socially Phobic Pop Star.” She discussed her discomfort with fame, saying, “Once, as my friend was telling me they had cancer, someone came up and asked, in the middle of the conversation, if they could take a photograph with me.” She withdrew from her tour and promotional obligations in 2010 and decided to write for other pop stars like Beyoncé and Shakira, staying behind the scenes until her breakout in 2014. The article features an illustration of Sia, noting that she “refused to pose for a photograph” and that she had recently posed for the cover of Billboard with a paper bag on her head.
Since then Sia has almost constantly worn her wig for public appearances. She does seem comfortable (occasionally) leaving it behind, though.