Sabrina Carpenter struggled to adapt to her current image and initially felt like she was ‘playing a character’ after record executives suggested she overhaul her appearance in an attempt to achieve the same success as fellow artists Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift .
The 25-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past year, with recent hit singles Espresso and Please Please Please finally cementing her household name status after years of trying to get her break.
But insiders claim her newfound popularity is the result of embracing a “sexpot” image and an extremely tongue-in-cheek attitude after joining Island Records in 2021 – a move that has reportedly left some struggling to recognize the former Disney star to recognize.
“She couldn’t connect with a large audience and drastic changes had to be made,” a source told DailyMail.com exclusively.
‘With a new record label [Island] and new management, she was put in charge of leaving her mundane image behind and selling herself as a ‘sexpot.’
Sabrina Carpenter struggled to adapt to her current image and initially felt like she was ‘playing a character’ after record executives suggested she overhaul her appearance, insiders said
The 25-year-old’s newfound popularity is the result of embracing a ‘sexpot’ image and an extremely tongue-in-cheek attitude after joining Island Records in 2021.
Despite appearing comfortable with the lyrics of her racy songs and revealing ensembles — even going so far as to hit back at trolls who trashed her sexy tour outfits — Sabrina initially struggled with her image overhaul.
“It made her very uncomfortable because behind closed doors she wears sweats and little makeup and likes to stay home and watch Netflix,” the insider continued.
“She had been a Disney girl and was told the importance of a healthy image, like Hilary Duff and Selena Gomez before her.
‘It was initially a challenge to suddenly show skin and show it off while singing provocative lyrics. She had to embrace her acting skills, but it worked.”
Despite her mainstream success, the source added that she sometimes feels like a “fraud” who is “playing a character.”
Another source claimed she was willing to do “whatever it takes” after signing with Island Records.
“Sabrina knows she just has to let it go and accept that she will have to become a commercial product to establish herself,” they said. “It’s no different than what Britney, Gaga or Katy Perry did. They know what will sell and she will until she is in a place where she can take charge.
‘She always knew it was her voice that would make her famous. She has a sound that isn’t there. She knows this.’
“She couldn’t connect with a large audience and drastic changes had to be made,” a source exclusively told DailyMail.com
Another insider added: ‘Producers presented a more mature version of her and put the rocket ship on her back… and now she’s more mature, more sexed up’
A third insider added: ‘Producers presented a more mature version of her and put the rocket ship on her back and even gave her good music and now she’s more mature, more sexed up.
“If the talent wasn’t there she would be forgotten, but she is now a bona fide pop star who is also being considered for roles in major films.”
Sabrina started at Disney and played Maya Hart on Girl Meets World from 2014 to 2017.
She also released four albums on the Disney label Hollywood Records between 2015 and 2019, and also starred in films such as The Hate U Give, Tall Girl, Adventures In Babysitting and The Short History of the Long Road.
After her move to Island Records, she made headlines after fans claimed she was the mysterious “blonde girl” that Olivia Rodrigo sang about in her love song, Driver’s License.
The internet was flooded with articles, videos and social media posts as people desperately tried to find out if Sabrina had stolen her then-boyfriend and fellow Disney star Joshua Bassett from his High School Musical: The Musical: The Series costar Olivia.
Sabrina and Joshua dated in 2020 and were spotted having lunch together in LA. They also shared sweet snaps of them dressed as Shark Boy and Lava Girl for Halloween that same year.
In her song, Olivia sang, “And you’re probably with that blonde girl / That always made me doubt.” She’s so much older than me / She’s everything I’m insecure about.”
In 2021, the star changed her style after moving to Island Records and making headlines for her love triangle with Joshua Bassett and Olivia Rodrigo
The source continued: ‘It made her very uncomfortable because behind closed doors she wears sweats and little makeup and likes to stay home and watch Netflix’
It didn’t take long for fans to put two and two together, since Sabrina is four years older and dated Joshua right after Olivia.
Sabrina released her first album with Island, Emails I Can’t Send, the following year.
The album included Skin, a response track to Olivia’s Driver’s License, in which she sang, “Maybe then we can pretend / There’s no gravity in the words we write / Maybe you didn’t mean it / Maybe blond was the only rhyme.” .
“You can try/ To get under my, under my, under my skin/ While he’s on mine/ Yeah, all on my, all on my, all on my skin.”
However, it was her cheeky song Nonsense that became a highlight for the star.
In 2023, she was announced as the opening act for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour on dates in Latin America, Australia and Singapore.
During the tour, she delighted fans with explicit outros to Nonsense, beginning her steady transition into pop’s latest “sexpot.”
During a performance in Dallas, she sang, “I just wanna ride it like a rodeo/ But first gotta grow it like Pinocchio/ Sorry, I’m so vulgar San Antonio.”
Earlier this year, she achieved her first number one song on the UK Singles Chart with Espresso, which also dominated the airwaves in the US.
Her follow-up single Please Please Please now stands out as her first number one song on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Her sixth and final album Short n’ Sweet topped the Billboard 200 and has since been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Of America (RIAA).
It contains the single Taste which also topped the UK Singles Chart and reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100.
The song seems to reference Shawn Mendes and the love triangle she found herself in with his ex-girlfriend, Camila Cabello.
She shared a steamy kiss with Wednesday star Jenna Ortega in the music video and copied the smooch with a backup dancer as she performed the song at the 2024 Video Music Awards.
In the music video for her song Taste, she shared a steamy kiss with Wednesday star Jenna Ortega
During her performance of the song at the 2024 Video Music Awards, she kissed a backup dancer dressed as an alien
Last week she hit back at ‘trolls’ who criticized her sexy stage outfits, telling them: ‘Don’t come to the show’
Sabrina kicked off her tour in support of her Short n’ Sweet album on September 23 in Columbus, Ohio.
The singer wowed fans when she took the stage in a number of racy outfits, showed off sexy dance moves, used some swear words and took shots at the stage.
Last week she hit back at ‘trolls’ who criticized her costumes, telling them: ‘Don’t come to the show.’
In her cover interview for TIME Magazine’s TIME100 Next list, she said, “It’s a shame that it was ever criticized because honestly the scariest thing in the world is getting up on a stage in front of so many people and pretending like it’s nothing is.
“If the only thing that helps you with that is the way you feel comfortable dressing, then that’s what you need to do.”
The Star isn’t afraid to strip off after having fun modeling Kim Kardashian‘s Skims brand for the spring campaign in May.
She is also known to share some racy photos with fans online, while her favorite lingerie theme is also part of the design for her merchandise.