Yesterday we saw a few photos of Jessica Simpson making her arrival in Charlottesville, VA ahead of a live performance (opening for Rascal Flatts) scheduled for last night at the University of Virginia‘s John Paul Jones Arena. It was the first time Jess appeared in public since photos of her previous performance last weekend (showing her curvier new figure) sparked much conversation (some, not very nice) about her weight. Last night, Jess took to the performance stage again and sang her heart out (making the faces to prove it) and, at the close of her set, thanked her fans for their support:

In her first performance since the flap over her figure, Jessica Simpson strutted across a Virginia stage in skin-tight leather pants Thursday night and lamented the world’s “completely pointless” focus. “Thank you for your support,” she told the crowd in Charlottesville at the end of her set. “Stay positive, and pray out loud! I love you guys, good night.” Simpson, 28, never specifically mentioned the news of her new curves or the vocal support from her sister Ashlee and Kim Kardashian. But in her performance opening for Rascal Flatts at the University of Virginia’s John Paul Jones Arena, Simpson was no-nonsense and outspoken in her black pants, V-neck T-shirt and hip-length black jacket. “Please remember, no matter what you go through in life, somebody else might have it harder,” she told the crowd. “So just appreciate.” She added: “I feel like in our world today we focus on so many things that are completely pointless.” Fans overwhelmingly supported her. “She’s obviously comfortable with herself to wear those leather pants,” says UVA freshman Laura Tiezzi. “Good lord, give the woman a break, she looks great,” adds Debbie Stollings, a 43-year-old kindergarten teacher in Charlottesville. “It’s mean. She looks more curvy, more womanly. She looks healthy. If Tony Romo’s happy, everybody else need to be too.”

While I still contend that Jessica‘s facial expressions on the concert stage are too ridiculous for words (an opinion I’ve held for quite some time), I think she looked great on that stage last night … freaky faces, notwithstanding. I imagine that it cannot be easy for her to hear some of the nasty things being said about her so I honestly believe she is genuinely thankful for the support she’s received from fans.

After her airport arrival yesterday but before her live performance last night, Jessica was spotted on the streets of Charlottesville yesterday afternoon … lookin’ about as fine as she ever has:

I blame that really fug outfit she wore last weekend on all this insane “controversy” about her weight. Again I say, she looks happy and healthy and that is all that matters. Keep doin’ your thang, Jessica. I may not be a fan of the music but I am a big fan of your resolve to not let the haters get you down.

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]