Happy Birthday Charli XCX: here are 25 times she was a total boss

Who hasn't broken into their own dressing room?

25 years ago today we were blessed with the ultimate bad ass pop princess, Charli XCX, and with her arrival on planet earth we’ve got countless pop bangers, some incredible music videos and a new appreciation for “pussy power”.

Now the songstress has turned 25 she’s got big plans for her birthday:

But while Charli does her design work, you can celebrate her quarter century with this countdown of 25 times Charli XCX was an absolute boss.

1
When she flipped the male gaze on its head in her epic ‘Boys’ video

Charli XCX for 'Boys'

The video features tons of blokes taking on the role of video vixen. Speaking to BBC Radio 1 she explained her decision behind the video, saying: “They’re doing all the sexy things that girls usually do in music videos…I just wanted to flip the male gaze on its head.”

2
When she tried to release ‘Pussy Power’ tampons

Charli XCX performs at 2015 Lollapalooza at Grant Park

After fans kept chucking boxes of sanitary products at her when she was performing she decided to take matters into her own hands – with her own brand of ‘Pussy Power’ tampons. “I really wanted to make tampon merch,” she told MTV “That was a dream of mine for a really long time — to have tampons that say ’Sucker’ on the side and ’Pussy Power’ on the box.” Unfortunately her plans were ruined when the production was stopped because of health risks.

3
When she broke into her own dressing room

Charli XCX at Boohoo launch

Speaking to Buzzfeed Charli explained: “I was at the American Music Awards a couple of years ago and we got locked out of our trailer, our dressing room. Nobody would open the door so we had to crawl through the roof. It was me, my stylist, and my manager crawling through a small hole which was pretty weird.”

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4
When she put on this epic show at Glastonbury

Charli XCX performs at Glastonbury 2017

Proving confetti isn’t just for the finale, only minutes into her set on the Other Stage Charli had pink silly string rain down.

5
When she recognised the 90s were amazing

Charli XCX in the 'Break The Rules' music video

Charli has channeled the ’90s in several of her videos, like her wicked ‘Clueless’ parody for ‘Fancy’. Speaking to ETonline about her ‘Break the Rules’ video she explained: “The video is kind of like a cross between my favorite movies and also my favorite photographs, from David LaChapelle’s photograph of Marilyn Manson, to the movie The Craft, to Jawbreaker – I just wanted it to be very like, ’90s movie classic.”

6
When she wasn’t afraid to take a musical risk

Charli XCX Vroom Vroom video

Not content with sticking within the confines of traditional pop music – Charli teamed up with Sophie for the wonderfully bizarre ‘Vroom Vroom’.

7
When she released her ode to female masturbation

Charli XCX performs during the Red Bull Studios Future Underground

“I’m into myself, don’t need you, cause I’m gone” she croons in ‘Body Of My Own’. Explaining why she released the song to The Times she said: “Body of My Own is about masturbation, but it’s a feminist statement more than a song telling you to put your hand in your pants, because girls should own their own bodies.”

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8
When she had her priorities sorted

Charli XCX attends the 2014 Billboard Music Awards

“I don’t care if I sell one copy or millions. I just want to be written about in 50 years time as someone who helped make pop cooler than it is now.” Charli told The Daily Star back in 2014.

9
When her Halloween party was shut down at 10:30pm

Singer Charli XCX performs onstage during amfAR's 22nd Cinema Against AIDS Gala

Charli explained to Buzzfeed how she held a massive party with some of her biggest fans for Halloween: ” All my fans were just having the best time in my dressing room, stealing my rider, it was great. It was really, really fun, I don’t remember any of it but my friend filmed it. My fans are really cool and chill…It started at 7pm but by 8pm everyone was trashed, it was crazy. My friend had to shut the party down at 10.30pm because it got really out of control, it was hilarious; really an amazing night.”

10
When she reminded us there’s more than one definition of sexy

Speaking to The Evening Standard about her album Sucker she said: “I feel sexy singing these songs and I hope that inspires other girls and other women, because you can totally be confident and feel amazing in your own skin without having to try to conform to what Heat magazine, or FHM or any guy says is sexy. I think what women think is sexy is what is sexy. Girls eating pizza are massively sexy.”

11
When she fangirled like the rest of us over a hero

Charli XCX performs on stage at the Kiss FM Haunted House Party

In 2012 actual Spice Girl Geri Halliwell interviewed Charli for V magazine. She spoke about the experience to Elle, saying: “I went to her house, which was amazing. I felt so weird. I was freaking out. I was like, “I’m in Ginger Spice’s house, this is insane.” She was great. She did her research; she knew everything about me. I was freaking out when I was sitting on her sofa. Like, “Oh my God, I’m so close to my hero.”

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12
When she revealed to Ginger Spice her family used to go to illegal raves together

Charli XCX attends the Sonos And Pandora Present

When Charli was explaining how, aged 14, she used to play illegal raves in Hackney, Geri Halliwell asked if her parents knew: “They came! The rebellion phase turned into a family thing!”

13
And when her mum was just as badass as her

Charlie XCX performs on the Other Stage during day 2 of the Glastonbury Festival

And when her mum was just as badass as her Speaking to the Telegraph about one of her early rave shows Charli told them: “My mum helped someone out of a K-hole, and we didn’t leave until 7am.”

14
When she explained why it isn’t actually embarrassing to say you like pop music

Charli XCX performs live at the Spotify Opening Gig as part of Advertising Week Europe

In that V interview with Ginger Spice, when asked why she’d like to change the current state of pop music Charli explained: “Some people are embarrassed to say that they like pop music, but I feel like times are changing. There are some really amazing pop artists, including myself, that are pretty young and aren’t just thinking about lyrics like “I’m in a club with a boy! Yeah!”

15
When she didn’t have time for your bitching

Charli XCX performs onstage during the 2017 Governors Ball Music Festival

Charli’s become known for championing her peers work on social media. Speaking to Pitchfork she explained: “I don’t have time to be a bitch to people, it’s so unproductive. I know there are so many people out there—fans and artists—who think it’s cool to be a cunt, but you’re so fucking dumb if you think that’s cool. I like befriending my collaborators because I’d rather make music with people I like than people I pretend to like.”

16
When she revealed why she loves the NME Awards

Charli XCX poses with the award for Best Dancefloor Filler in the winner's room at the NME Awards at Brixton Academy

Speaking to Buzzfeed Charli said: “The NME Awards are like a rock music magazine in the UK. They serve pizza at 2am and everybody gets truly fucked up which is really fun; big party vibes.”

17
When she considered leaking her album if she got bored

Recording artist Charli XCX performs onstage at KIIS FM's Jingle Ball 2014

According to Zane Lowe – when he interviewed Charli ahead of the release of her new album for Beats 1 she said “I’m sure I’ll just get bored and leak the whole thing before then anyway.”

18
When she was honest about who she fancied

Recording artist Charli XCX performs onstage at the 2014 American Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A.

“I have this Bill Murray fetish thing going on… my dream crush, whatever” Charli told Buzzfeed.

19
When she was a zombie Maria Sharapova

Charli XCX attends the Sonos And Pandora Present

“It’s a zombie fuckfest: slutty zombies having a sexy party on a tennis court. Like zombie Wimbledon and I am Maria Sharapova.” she told Noisey on the set of her ‘After the Afterparty’ video.

20
When she sang karaoke with Sky Ferreira

Charli XCX performs at the Hangout Stage during the 2017 Hangout Music Festival

“We sang everything. The best one we did together was “Nothing Compares 2 U.” We had everyone crying. She takes it quite seriously.” Charli told Elle magazine.

21
When she didn’t care about aesthetics

Charli XCX performs during the Red Bull Studios Future Underground

“I want to fuck up the music industry, not make it a prettier place.” she told the Daily Star.

22
When she reminded her fans what’s really important

Singer Charli XCX performs onstage during ESPN the Party at WestWorld of Scottsdale

When asked what she thought of people who only cared about looks in a Twitter Q&A, Charli responded: “beauty fades. its what inside that counts and its what you say that will be remembered :)”

23
When she was all about female bonding

Charli XCX performs onstage during iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2014

“I think that female bonding in the industry is way more powerful and inspiring than female rivalry,” Charli told Hypebae. Too right.

24
When she knew what was important in life

Singer Charli XCX performs onstage during the Rolling Stone LIVE

When asked in a Twitter Q&A whether she’d pick boys or champagne – she responded “……………..champagne.”

25
And when she knew every party could be improved with Britney

Charli XCX performs during the Red Bull Studios Future Underground

When the Rolling Stone asked Charli what her ideal party would be she responded: “Lots of champagne and a really great driver, who isn’t drinking. Just want to add that in. … A Britney Spears and Sophie playlist. Maybe she could do a PA with him DJing.”

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