Britney Debuts New Glow

Britney Spears has stepped back into the celebrity glam spotlight with help from Chris Appleton, the stylist known for his work with the Kardashians.

The 44-year-old pop icon appeared on Appleton’s Instagram after checking into a treatment facility following a March traffic stop in Los Angeles. Spears had been pulled over after reportedly driving erratically at high speeds on a motorway. She later pleaded guilty to reckless driving involving alcohol and drugs and was sentenced to 12 months’ probation.

Appleton shared a photo with Spears, who posed playfully while holding curling wands, her signature blonde hair worn long, straight and loose. “As a kid growing up in England, Britney Spears was the soundtrack to so many moments,” he wrote.

The post quickly drew support from Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian and Chrishell Stause. Kardashian’s connection to Spears goes back to 2012, when Khloe Kardashian co-hosted the US X Factor while Spears served as a judge during Simon Cowell’s era on the show. Kim also discussed Spears earlier this year on Khloe’s In Wonder Land podcast, saying Britney’s manager, Cade Hudson, had helped arrange a private hangout.

Spears has not directly addressed the makeover. Four days earlier, she shared a dance video with a cryptic caption about moving out of the country, changing her name and avoiding “mean girls.” Another post appeared to reference people laughing and looking at their phones in an audience.

The styling moment comes as Spears remains under scrutiny following the release of footage from her March arrest, which showed her briefly sobbing in the back seat of a police car before being taken to hospital. As part of her sentencing deal, she must pay a $571 (£423) fine, see a psychologist weekly and meet with a psychiatrist twice a month.

The new post puts Spears back in a familiar pop-culture frame: a major celebrity, a high-profile stylist and an image refresh watched closely by fans.