The longtime couple recently split after seven years together.
Mariah Carey is ready for a year of new beginnings! On Monday, the singer celebrated the new year by sharing a photo on Instagram featuring a side-profile shot of Carey wearing a glittery Retrofête mini dress and holding a silver star-shaped balloon.
"New year, new beginnings..," Carey captioned the shot, also noting that the photo was taken "from my 'bad side!'"
Of course, friends and fans of the 54-year-old superstar were quick to praise the photo and let her know that she has no such bad side.
"You will never have a bad side MC," singer Tamar Braxton commented, which celebrity photographer Alfredo Flores reiterated.
The singer's aversion to showing her "bad side" stems from advice the singer received when she was younger and making her debut in the industry. On her 2016 year reality show, Mariah's World, Carey explained that during her first photo shoot when she was 19, a woman on the set told her that the right side of her face is "your good side, only let people photograph you from your good side, ever."
From then on, Carey said she "didn't like" pictures from her left side.
Carey's dedication to trying new things comes soon after she split with her longtime boyfriend, Bryan Tanaka.
Speculation about the couple's split arose when Tanaka was noticeably absent from Carey's ongoing Merry Christmas One and All! tour, which kicked off in mid-November.
Carey was also spotted celebrating the holidays in Aspen, Colorado, without Tanaka, marking the first time in years that the couple has not spent the festive season together in the snowy getaway.
On Dec. 26, 40-year-old Tanaka confirmed that the couple parted ways in a lengthy statement shared on Instagram. "With mixed emotions, I share this personal update regarding my amicable separation from Mariah Carey after seven extraordinary years together," he wrote.
"Our decision to embark on different paths is mutual, and as we navigate these separate journeys, we do so with profound respect and an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the invaluable time we've shared. The memories we've created and the artistic collaborations etched into my heart forever."
Tanaka continued, "Mariah's dedication to her family and her commitment to her craft have inspired us during our shared journey. I want to express my love and appreciation for Mariah and her incredible children, whose warmth and kindness have enriched my life in ways words cannot capture."
After thanking fans for their support, Tanaka concluded his post with an optimistic outlook for the future, sharing, "I eagerly anticipate continuing my journey, knowing my passion for inspiration, dance and the creative arts will resonate in the unfolding chapters."
Carey, who shares 12-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe with ex-husband Nick Cannon, has not publicly commented on the breakup.
The couple's professional relationship dates back to 2006, when Tanaka joined Carey on her Adventures of Mimi tour. They officially became romantically involved in 2016 after a decade of working together.
Despite a brief breakup in 2017, Carey and Tanaka reconciled and have been inseparable since. They have toured together and celebrated numerous Christmases as a couple, making their absence from each other during this holiday season all the more noticeable.
In 2017, Tanaka even took the stage with Carey during her All I Want for Christmas Is You shows, and the couple spent the December holidays together in Aspen, often sharing adorable photos from their festive activities.
The couple's last public appearance together was back in March during Carey's birthday celebration, where Tanaka shared a heartfelt photo on Instagram with a caption expressing his love for the singer.
Despite the breakup, Carey has kept her festive spirit alive on social media. The singer has shared several glimpses of her holiday celebrations with her children via her Instagram page.
Before the trio headed off for their annual holiday trip, Carey, Moroccan and Monroe visited the nation's capital and chatted with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The GRAMMY winner shared photos from the visit on her Instagram page, including shots featuring the family of three checking out the White House's holiday decorations.
And, once the holiday trip commenced, Carey shared shots of her celebrating with her children, taking a magical sleigh ride, and even taking on a TikTok challenge.
Of course, the singer couldn't forget to indulge in her favorite annual activity: letting loose by getting into a hot tub while wearing a dazzling sparkly gown and diamonds.
"Wishing us all a healthy, peaceful & a happy new year!" the singer sweetly captioned the video.
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