Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight have kept to themselves since their dramatic rescue from Ariel Castro's Cleveland house last May, though all three appeared in a video statement thanking the pubic for its support.
But Berry, the 27-year-old kidnap victim who gave birth to Castro's daughter, stepped out into the public eye for the first time at Cleveland's RoverFest concert on Saturday.
According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, rapper Nelly introduced Berry -- wearing jeans, a black t-shirt and sunglasses -- to the cheering crowd.
"She waved to the crowd, everyone went crazy cheering, and she went backstage. Nelly did his set, 4 or 5 songs, and then he brought her out again and everyone cheered," a concertgoer said.
"I can't imagine the type of strength and the type of courage it took to keep you going," Nelly told Berry. "I commend you," he said.
Castro pled guilty to 937 counts of kidnapping and rape on Friday, as part of a plea agreement that will put him in prison for life without parole.
