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.

After receiving the award on stage, George expressed, “First of all, I wanna thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And I wanna thank the CMAs for adding my name to the incredible artists on this small list of recipients carrying the name of the icon Willie Nelson.”

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.”

The country icon went on to thank MCA Records, his fans, his band, managers, and other instrumental people who have passed away.

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.”

Another wrote, “Simone should have stayed home.” “Why was she even there [sic] ,” wondered someone else. Spectators on X also noticed Simone’s glance, with an observer penning, “[…] what Simone biles issue with Norma straight [sic]?!” “Simone Biles side-eyeing Norma Strait like she owes her money #CMAawards,” added another X user.

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.

Although the majority of people were not able to look past Simone’s disposition toward Norma, a few netizens focused on uplifting the gymnast with praise. “Simone looked Gorgeous ,” swooned a fan, while a fellow admirer gushed, “She’s such a bright light! .”

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.

Simone’s second outfit was a tailored, glittery silver power suit that continued the metallic theme she had opted for with her first outfit.

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.

On the other hand, some netizens praised Simone’s new locks. “I like her new hairstyle, so pretty,” raved a fan, while another declared, “she [sic] is ridiculously beautiful, she can rock any hairstyle!”

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.

An admirer also highlighted how her bob suits her post-Olympic lifestyle, which allows her to embrace styles that are impractical for her competitive career. A different commenter noted how stunning Simone looked, while someone else complimented both her appearance and presenting skills.

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.

Simone posted a video on her since-expired Instagram Story, sharing a light-hearted yet firm message, “don’t come for me about my hair [sic].”

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].”

Simone was more direct in another post, stating, “gonna hold your hand when I say this…next time you wanna comment on a black girls hair. JUST DON’T [sic].” Her statement led to various reactions on social media.

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

Another echoed this viewpoint, albeit with a hint of concern, “Her hair looks broke off , fried, and unhealthy. I don’t think anyone is trying to be mean , if anything it’s black women giving advice . She is the best gymnast ever and she has the means to attain healthy hair. Why not look and be your best simultaneously [sic]?”

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.

One commenter supported Simone by urging women to stop criticizing hairstyles and pointing out that frizz from humidity is a common experience.

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.

The team’s win marked the fourth gold for the U.S., following their triumphs in 1996, 2012, and 2016. Italy claimed silver with a score of 165.494, while Brazil took bronze with 164.497, marking their first medal in this category.

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.

In another photo, Simone sported small braids running from the front to the back, which seamlessly blended into her high, messy bun.

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.

Reflecting on the team’s achievement, Simone expressed her joy, saying, “It feels amazing. We love it, we’re excited…We got the job done.”

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.