On November 20, some of country music’s biggest stars stepped out dressed to the nines to attend the prestigious CMA Awards in Nashville, Tennessee. Among the A-listers was superstar gymnast Simone Biles, who rubbed online viewers the wrong way with the look she gave country legend George Strait’s wife, Norma Strait.

For the glitzy affair, the Olympic gold medalist looked radiant in a figure-hugging metallic gown. The lengthy dress featured a knotted shoulder strap and an off-the-shoulder sleeve.

Elevating her eye-catching ensemble, Simone accessorized with stud earrings, a silver hand chain, and her stunning wedding ring. She fashioned her locks into a stylish bob that framed her face.

While the star looked beautiful in her ensemble, her disposition toward Norma during George’s award acceptance speech caught the public’s attention. The “I Cross My Heart” artist was honored with the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.

Following a few cheers from the audience and fellow musicians on stage with him, George continued, “I wanna thank all of these great artists who performed some of my songs that I’ve recorded over the years. It’s amazing to hear y’all do them. I’m so glad I got ’em before you.”

George then said, “And last but not least, my family who are all here tonight. My wife, Norma, my son, Bubba, his wife […] my grandkids […] so great to have y’all here.”

He spotlighted Norma again, reiterating his gratitude to her for always supporting him for almost 53 years. As George said this, the camera panned back to the audience to focus on Norma.

Standing close to the supportive wife was Simone, who looked Norma up and down with a distinct expression that did not go unnoticed by social media users.

“Gosh, what a look,” observed a user on TikTok, while another pointed out, “I saw that.. I was like […] what a look.. the [sic] look of jealousy. Especially with everyone else clapping and smiling.” “That’s what jealousy looks like,” echoed a netizen. Yet another person reiterated, “Eyes of jealousy.”

Someone who posted a GIF of a baby looking to the side with an exaggerated expression quipped, “Simone Biles was over there looking like 😂 #CMAawards.”

Facebookers also joined in on the conversation. “I can tell country music is not Simone’s favorite! It’s ok the world would be awfully boring if everyone liked the same thing. #SimoneBiles #CMA,” asserted a user.

Responding directly to an outlet’s post about Simone’s side-eye, another stated, “Everyone in photo [sic] looks happy except for Simone.” “Why was she even there..?” pondered a commenter, echoing the same question another person had asked earlier.

Not only did Simone Biles sport an elegant metallic dress at the awards show, but at some point during the evening, the famous athlete, who was also one of the presenters, surprised netizens with a second outfit. While Simone looked beautiful in both ensembles, it was her hair that stole the show.

While many netizens admired her look, one user, who sat on the fence, commented, “Beautiful Dress but it doesn’t fit!!” A second speculated, “She is going to be a mum!!” while one observer remarked that her metallic gown appeared unflattering because of its fit.

Another observer who also focused on her hairstyle, expressed appreciation for Simone’s confidence to experiment with creative looks that reflect her personality and individuality.

The renowned gymnast’s new bob marked a striking transformation from the “fried” hair she dealt with during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

During the competition, Simone faced unexpected criticism from netizens about her hair, despite her focus on her journey to gold. However, the gymnast didn’t hesitate to respond to her critics.

Seated on a bus and dealing with soaring temperatures, Simone explained, “IT WAS DONE but bus has NO AC & it’s like 9,0000 degrees [sic].” She added, “oh & a 45 min ride [sic].”

One netizen expressed frustration, criticizing Simone’s hair for appearing less polished compared to her teammates.

Amid the critique, some fans expressed their admiration for Simone, with one noting that they still loved her and wished her success.

Many defended Simone, emphasizing the physical demands of her sport and dismissing criticism of her hair as unfair and irrelevant.

Despite the online comments about her hair, Simone remained focused and led her team to victory in the competition. She led Team USA to a stunning win in the women’s gymnastics team final, securing a total score of 171.296.

Throughout the Olympics, Simone showcased simple yet striking hairstyles, often opting for a bun that highlighted her versatility and style. In one photo, she wore her hair in a high bun secured with hairpins and featuring loose strands.

Another image showed that Simone opted for a more casual look, wearing a simple messy bun with some strands left loose for a relaxed appearance. She kept the style natural, without adding any hairpins.

On Instagram, Simone also shared a photo of her team celebrating their win, as they held onto the American flag. “lack of talent, lazy, olympic champions ❤️🥇🇺🇸 [sic],” captioned the star.