Madonna may be one of the biggest artists of all time, but the Queen of Pop's latest Celebration Tour concert at London's O2 saw an unexpected star stealing the limelight.
On Sunday night, while the 'Holiday' singer was - of course - the main attraction, it was her 11-year-old daughter, Estere, who took center stage and wowed fans with her exceptional performance.
Madonna's iconic Celebration Tour debuted at the O2 on Saturday (October 14), marking the commencement of a whirlwind of 78 shows across 15 countries, per the Daily Mail. While expectations were set high for the music legend, she had a few tricks up her sleeve.
To the delight of the audience, she was accompanied by her children - Lourdes, 27, Chifundo 'Mercy' James, 17, and Estere, 11.
While Mercy enchanted fans with the haunting strains of 'Bad Girl' on a grand piano and Lourdes showcased her dance prowess, it was the youngest, Estere, who became the talk of the town... and X (formerly known as Twitter).
Videos of Estere voguing to Madonna's classic hit rapidly made their rounds online, garnering admiration - and criticism from social media users.
Dressed in a vibrant yellow bodysuit paired with black boots, Estere mirrored her mother's iconic dance moves, proving that talent certainly runs in the family.
After footage of Estere's remarkable dancing was shared to X by PopCrave, social media users were quick to share praise for the talented youngster. "[Oh my gosh] she's so talented," one person tweeted.
A second added: "She’s gonna be a superstar! No doubt", while a third X user replied: "It would actually be so cool to be a child of an artist. From a very young age, you are surrounded by creative, often charismatic people, and you are bound to develop an interesting personality, often with a sprinkle of talent."
However, others questioned if Estere was perhaps "too young" for the performance.
One person replied to the video, tweeting: "Does anyone think this is too young?" To which, another person wrote: "Yes, I do. And people will twist this and say that those who see this as wrong are the problem. But no. It’s not ideal for an 11-year-old kid to perform this way. It’s just inappropriate. The performance looks more for an adult."
But there were plenty of X users who defended Madonna and Estere - pointing out how voguing is far from inappropriate, that many professional dancers start young, and that performing with her family at the O2 would be "one heck of a confidence booster for kids her age".
The voguing style traces back to the Harlem House Ball community, with choreographers Jose Gutierez Xtravaganza and Luis Xtravaganza introducing Madonna to it at New York's Sound Factory Club.
However, the controversy for the evening doesn't end there.
According to the Mail, fans were left disappointed when the concert concluded abruptly at 11:00PM, with four songs from her setlist - including hits like 'Like A Virgin' and 'B***h I'm Madonna' - left unsung.
This abrupt end is attributed to the O2's stringent curfew, which mandates events to wrap up by 11:00PM from Monday to Saturday and by 10:30PM on Sundays. Disgruntled fans were quick to note that if Madonna had taken the stage earlier than 9:00PM, the show might have seen its complete two-hour run.
While the concert had its ups and downs, Estere's performance stands as a testament to the next generation's potential, marking her as an emerging talent to watch out for in the music industry.
