PinkPantheress, the genre-bending artist behind “Boys a Liar, Pt. 2,” just reached a major milestone—this time, not on the charts but in academia. On Tuesday, July 22nd, the University of Kent awarded the 24-year-old an honorary doctorate, celebrating her innovative impact on music in the digital era. The ceremony, held at the iconic Canterbury Cathedral, recognized her as one of eight honorees.
Walking across the stage in a striking red gown, PinkPantheress reflected on how her hometown shaped her path. “Canterbury was the backdrop for the majority of my life. I joined my first band here,” she told the crowd. “I had my first-ever job at the cricket ground. I uploaded my first songs to SoundCloud here.” She also shared memories of late nights working on songs while her father, a statistics professor at the same university, graded papers nearby.
During her speech, the singer shined a light on the dwindling support for the arts, pointing out how funding cuts have hit music programs across the U.K. “We’ve seen music departments lose funding all over the country though,” she said. “It’s never been more important to give young people access to different artistic outlets … Trust yourself and lean on those who support you.”
The moment wasn’t just a professional honor but a full-circle experience for the star, who left college early to focus on music. After the ceremony, she shared a playful TikTok dancing through the university hallways to her song “Illegal,” proudly holding her degree. “And from now, it’s Dr. Pantheress,” she joked in the caption. “I cannot believe this and legit every single person who graduated with a doctorate or any degree today at kent uni, i am in awe of you, you’re the future you’re everything, i am not worthy of being in your presence.”
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