Australia is bracing for a storm with a forecast of glitter and stadium-shaking screams, but not everyone is ready to dance in the rain.
Next month, Harry Styles-mania will arrive in Sydney and Melbourne with massive shows; however, alongside the excitement, some Aussie fans are preparing to confront a familiar double standard.
While young women screaming every lyric will inevitably be dismissed as “cringe”, grown men wearing sweaty football jerseys hurling abuse at refs in the very same stadium seats are hailed as passionate.
However, for fans like Manekha Balgobin, the negativity has never managed to dull her passion.
“I think people sometimes struggle to understand how much something can mean to you when they’ve never experienced it themselves,” Ms Balgobin told news.com.au.
“I’ve been a Harry fan for years, and some of my happiest memories, biggest adventures and closest friendships have come from loving his music. But when you’re a woman who is passionate about an artist, there’s often this assumption that you’re obsessed rather than people recognising that it’s something that genuinely brings you happiness.”
Through her love of the British singer, she’s found lifelong friendships, travelled the world and experienced moments she otherwise wouldn’t have.
She’s been in the crowd at over 70 of Styles’ gigs, including his current residency stop in New York’s Madison Square Garden this week.
“I think women should be allowed to love things loudly and unapologetically. We spend so much time worrying about how we’re perceived that we sometimes forget we’re allowed to be excited about life,” Ms Balgobin said.
“If something brings you happiness and connects you with people who make your life better, why should you ever be ashamed of that?”
Unfortunately, people have tried to make her, and other fans she is close with, feel that way in the past.
“I think the comments that stick with you are the ones that make you feel silly for caring so much. Whether it’s being told you’re wasting your money, that you’re obsessed or that you need to get a life, it can make you feel like you should be embarrassed about something that brings you genuine happiness,” she explained.
She also believes gender plays a significant role in deeming what is or isn’t considered cringe.
“I think anything associated with women has historically been dismissed as superficial or irrational. When men are passionate about football, for example, they’re seen as dedicated and loyal, but when women travel around the world for concerts, they’re often labelled obsessive or crazy,” she said.
“As someone who loves both music and football, the double standard is hard to ignore.”
According to new data commissioned by Kingpin, 41 per cent of Aussies have been teased, judged or made fun of for being a fan of their favourite artist.
The study also found 53 per cent have formed a meaningful connection through a shared love of an artist or fandom, and one in five have made lifelong friends, proving it to be the antidote to modern loneliness.
“We need more safe spaces where women can share what they love without being judged. That could be online or in-person communities, fan meet-ups, book clubs or just a group chat with friends who get it,” she said.
Several Aussie businesses have found unique ways to embrace the fandom fever, particularly when big names arrive on our shores to tour.
Kingpin is gearing up for Harry Styles with various activations, fan-inspired events and even a look-alike competition for his Melbourne leg.
For fans like Ms Balgobin, it means she can embrace the passion shame-free.
“Life is already serious enough, and I think we should be allowed to love things wholeheartedly without worrying about whether other people think it’s cool or embarrassing,” she explained.