Chloe Bailey follows behind her mentor Beyoncé and superstars Britney Spears, Pink, Madonna, Michael Jackson and Mariah Carey in partnership with Pepsi-Cola in honor of their classic flavors with a new modern look. Bailey spoke with BlavityU about adding her name to a list of legendary pop stars and having her big Pepsi moment, unveiling a new commercial.
“It felt absolutely amazing to be added to the list. So early in my solo career. And it’s definitely a ‘pinch me moment’ to be able to have such a common thread between all these icons with a Pepsi commercial. So to have that under my belt is pretty darn cool,” Bailey said.
From start to finish, Bailey played a significant role in the creative direction of the latest Pepsi-Cola Soda Shop ad. As the leading lady, Bailey delivers a modern take on Footloose while performing the musical’s hit track. In the video, she strolls into a retro diner where music and dancing are forbidden.
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“What I loved about collaborating with Pepsi is they let me put my own spin on things. When they came to me and said, ‘hey, we want you to do your own version of Footloose,’ I was so excited. One because it’s Pepsi. And two, I had full creative control,” Bailey said.
“I worked with my creative director Derek Dixie, and we did two different versions, landed on this one, and I’m so happy with how it turned out,” she gushed.
If you’re unfamiliar with Footloose, the original musical released in 1984, sets in a small town in Oklahoma where dancing is prohibited and follows a teenage dancer who is determined to overturn the city’s rules and let loose.
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Watching the commercial, you can sense the connection between the Footloose storyline to the Georgia native’s overly criticized career, where people have judged the star for being “too sexy” or “too much” in her performances and posts. Bailey admits that she is still learning and growing in her image as she continues her solo career.
“I play a big part, with being the producer and engineer of the music, there’s really no other way I can be but to be way hands-on with my music. I think I’ve been conditioned that way,” Bailey said. “When it comes to styling and creative things like that, I’m learning a lot, and the last video I shot, I directed it, which was cool, and I’m learning so much from everyone and everything and applying it to my life.”
Bailey told PEOPLE she felt she could relate to Footloose, mentioning the restrictions people place on her regardless of what she does.
“Oh, absofreakinlutely. It was hitting everything that I felt right on the head,” Bailey told PEOPLE. “The world tells you not to be too much. The world tells you not to be too little. You can never please everybody, and you have to just please yourself.”
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Bailey’s style is for the gworlsss — in the commercial, she’s wearing a half denim jacket, paired with cute mini denim shorts, a white corset and white and blue bedazzled platformed sneakers. Her locs are always on POINT. Did you not peep the Pepsi logo beads pinned throughout the triple threats locs? So fire.
“I’m so happy you noticed them! They’re so tiny so, I didn’t know if anyone would notice them. They’re little gems, I’m happy you noticed them,” Bailey giggles.
Regarding who touches her and her sister Halle’s locs, she didn’t mention any names but gave all of them their flowers.
“I have a few hair stylists in interchange, and they’re all so deeply talented,” she said.
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Bailey is just scratching the surface of her career with years ahead of her. She has been working on her solo album for the past two years while giving us fan-favorite singles “Have Mercy,” “Treat Me,” and “Surprise.” Bailey is sure to be on top when her project is released. Although she is present in her ever-flowing career, she does have her eyes ahead on a particular goal.
“In five years, I would love love to have an EGOT. It’s always been one of my biggest dreams because it touches on everything that I love with acting and music and everything in between so that’s my main goal,” Bailey said.
Pepsi’s classic flavors Black cherry, Cream soda, and zero sugar cream soda are back with a new twist.
