Billie Eilish has recently shared a personal reflection on her struggles with body image, revealing how her obsession with the clothing brand Brandy Melville impacted her self-esteem during her youth. In an interview with Complex, the singer talked candidly about her experiences growing up, discussing the influence that the brand had on her perception of her body and how it led to difficulties during her adolescence.

Early Style Choices

Eilish began by recalling her childhood, where her fashion choices were notably different from the popular trends of the time. As a young girl, she gravitated toward big dresses, often selecting baggy and masculine outfits. These style choices, while unconventional, drew attention for their uniqueness. According to Eilish, she was comfortable in her clothes and felt confident wearing fairy dresses and skirts, but avoided wearing pants or shorts.

However, as she entered her preteen years, her self-image started to change when she became more conscious of her appearance. Around the age of 11, she developed an obsession with Brandy Melville, a popular brand known for selling clothing in a single size. Eilish noted that she was “chubbier” at the time and found that the brand’s clothes did not fit her body in the way she had hoped.

Impact of Brandy Melville

The singer reflected on how this fixation on Brandy Melville’s size selection contributed to the start of her body image issues. She explained that she could fit into some of their shirts, but that was when her struggles with self-esteem began. “That’s when my body problems started,” Eilish shared.

As she entered puberty, Eilish mentioned that she was developing earlier than her peers, which further impacted her relationship with her body. “I wasn’t slim,” she admitted. “Also, I was in ballet, and that’s this whole world of body problems.” These formative experiences with body consciousness became a constant source of stress for the young artist.

The Pressure to Conform

As her career took off, Eilish was thrust into the spotlight, where her appearance became a subject of public discourse. Speculation arose around her decision to wear baggy clothes, with critics commenting that she didn’t appear “feminine” or “desirable.” Eilish recalled how these opinions weighed on her, leading to her taking an extreme approach to change her image.

“I was hearing that I wasn’t a woman, I didn’t look like a girl, and I wasn’t desirable,” she said. In an effort to challenge these perceptions, Eilish began experimenting with more traditionally feminine fashion choices. This included trying out skirts, button-ups, dresses, and even adopting pink nails and blonde hair—choices that marked a drastic shift from her earlier style. Eilish noted that these changes were not about personal preference, but rather about making a statement.

A New Image and Statement

Eilish later explained that her decision to adopt a more feminine look was not about truly embracing those aesthetics but rather about proving a point. The shift came during the making of her album Happier Than Ever, where she embraced more hyper-feminine styles as a response to the public’s criticism of her appearance. She sought to demonstrate that she could fit into societal expectations, even if she didn’t feel entirely authentic in doing so.

In her conversation with Complex, Eilish emphasized that her journey with body image was complex and shaped by various factors, from her early experiences with Brandy Melville to the pressures of fame. Despite the challenges, the singer has since found a balance, continuing to evolve her personal style while confronting the societal pressures placed on her.

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