Pop star Self Esteem has announced she will be supporting Scotland during the men's World Cup, citing her great-grandfather's Scottish heritage. The singer, whose real name is Rebecca Lucy Taylor, was part of the Hope FC team of singers who recorded "Call Me A Lioness" for the England women's team's 2023 World Cup campaign, but her loyalties shift for this year's men's tournament.
Self Esteem will perform at the new British Airways Arc venue at Kensington Olympia on June 16 and 17, with her first concert coinciding with England's opening match against Croatia on Wednesday. She told the Press Association: "I'm a Scottish men's football fan, I've decided. I'll keep an eye on England on my phone, but I am sad I'll be on the stage. I just decided this morning, my great-granddad was Scottish, and I thought, 'oh, I can identify Scottish now'. Obviously, I'll be supporting England as well. I just love calling it men's football."
The 39-year-old has previously spoken about her great-grandfather playing for Sheffield Wednesday in the 1920s. Her announcement follows Scotland's 1-0 victory over Haiti in the World Cup, with a goal from Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn.
Speaking about headlining the Arc venue, Self Esteem expressed excitement: "I'm really excited, it's so nice. I've spent my whole career playing really unclean, horrible venues. It's like my complaining has finally been solved by, 'OK, here's a venue no one's ever been in, you're going to be happy with this one.' The whole Olympia complex is just really beautiful."
The London gigs are part of tour dates supporting her 2025 album A Complicated Woman, ending at the Forwards festival in Bristol on August 29. After the tour, Self Esteem plans to take a break following a busy year that included performing in the West End production Teeth 'N' Smiles.
She reflected: "It's amazing, I can't believe I've achieved everything I set out to do, which has come at a massive cost on me personally, but I was really proud of myself. I didn't have that step up that most people working in this industry have. I hope that's inspirational."
Self Esteem added: "I'm ready to make another album, but I want to take my time and really think and research and grow and learn. I want to just go and live and reconnect to myself a bit, and also just knock about with my mates. Honestly, I don't see anyone, I don't hang out, and I go to nobody's things, so I'm hoping to be able to go to people's things and actually be a human being again."
Self Esteem previously played Sally Bowles in Cabaret in 2023 and achieved a UK top 10 album with A Complicated Woman, while her debut Prioritise Pleasure reached number 11. Tickets for her Arc performances are on sale now.
