Billie Eilish’s British Vogue Sparks Conversations About Body Positivity
Billie Eilish recently underwent a transformation for the June cover of British Vogue. The ‘Bad Guy’ artist, famously known for her neon green locks and oversized outfits, looks almost unrecognizable as the cover star, featuring her layered, platinum blonde hair, wearing a neutral-toned corset and revealing a mysterious thigh tattoo.
“It’s all about what makes you feel good,” the 19-year-old sensation says.
Eilish has always been a mark of body positivity, representing hairstyles and fashion that goes against the Hollywood norm, walking the red carpet with confidence and grandeur. She has always been real: honest in the way the spotlight has affected her, especially as a young woman growing up in an industry that can oftentimes be unnecessarily ruthless.
In the article, written by British Vogue contributor Laura Snapes, Eilish acknowledged the difficulty she felt in debuting her new hair color back in mid-March. After months of fan speculation that she was wearing a wig, her Instagram reveal went viral in a matter of minutes, six to be exact. It marks a new chapter of her fame– sophistication.
“I feel more like a woman, somehow,” she told Snapes.
Her cover shoot aimed for a classic, Golden Age look, something she explained was out of her comfort zone. The point of this variance: to make a statement about her maturity while commenting about the unrealistic double standards made against women in the industry.
Eilish has spoken openly about her body image struggles in the past, never shying away from the pressure she often feels to fit the perfect and innocent mold of a teenage pop star. Her insecurities are seen almost as a source of comfort for her fans, a relatable, yet empowering feeling that she refuses to hide.
While fans across the world applauded Eilish’s timely Vogue cover, critics inevitably came out of the woodwork, body-shaming and expressing disapproval. The harshest of those comments accuse her of selling out and question her choice of a corset despite being a model of body positivity.
Unfortunately, Eilish is no stranger to this darker side of the spotlight, as the public and the press have fixated on her style and body in the past. An October paparazzi picture of her wearing a form-fitting tank top dominated the news cycle in both negative and sympathetic lights.
Her corset-style dress, designed by Alexander McQueen, was certainly a new look for Eilish, but one she felt confident in.
“My thing is that I can do whatever I want,” the seven-time Grammy winner mentions in the article. “Showing your body and your skin – or not – should not take any respect away from you.”
The shoot was appropriately released in time with her latest single, “Your Power”—a song that adequately criticizes the abuse of power dynamics in our current world.
Eilish’s new look has successfully opened conversation regarding body image and self control, assets that she is proud to be a role model of. While she views the British Vogue article as a growing experience and form of self-expression, Eilish continues to surprise audiences across the world.
“You should be exactly who you feel like you are and want to be in that moment,” Eilish eloquently says. “Otherwise you’re going to go insane.”