Why Billie Eilish’s Body Image Honesty Will Always Be Important

 

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Body image has long been a taboo subject that so many fail to broach respectfully. From Hollywood A-listers, media outlets, leading fashion brands and production companies, making someone feel comfortable in their own skin has certainly not always been the top of their agenda.

As 2025 hurtles towards us can we expect the new year to plummet more kindness and understanding into these industries? Can they broaden their minds and marketing approaches to show us that one size certainly does not fit all and every body should be respected and celebrated for its own authentic self?

Billie Eilish made headlines last week for her honest interview with the publication, Complex. The Grammy and Golden Globe Award winner famously known for her baggy streetwear attire described her struggles with body confidence growing up and how her fame affected her opinion of her body.

In the article, the ‘Birds Of A Feather’ singer explained how her struggles with body confidence began when she became obsessed with the Cali-inspired apparel store.

In the interview, she said “When I was a little girl, I loved big dresses. All I wore was fairy dresses and skirts. I never wore pants or shorts when I was a little kid. But when I got to be about 11, I got obsessed with this brand called Brandy Melville.

“They only sold clothes in one size. I was chubbier and I was obsessed with these clothes, but I’d buy a shirt and it wouldn’t fit me. That’s where my body problems started. I was around the age of 10 or 11. I got boobs at like 9, and I was just developing really early. I wasn’t slim.”

 

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Eilish went on to describe how her professional persona became synonymous with this way of dressing. She said, “Then my career got to be big, and when I was around 16, I was put in such a box of, like, ‘Billie Eilish wears baggy clothes only. And she’s not a woman. And she doesn’t look like a girl. And she’s not desirable.'”

Eilish isn’t the first and definitely won’t be the last to stand up to these absurd body standards that women and men in Hollywood and the general public are expected to adhere to. Back in 2023 in an interview with Vogue, British actress Florence Pugh said that she had a “weird chapter” at the start of her acting career.

She explained that it was “confusing to people, especially in Hollywood” because she wasn’t “complying” with their vision of achieving the perfect body.

Pugh went on to add that “I think women especially young women in Hollywood are putting themselves in all these ways to get whatever opportunity they need to get because that is the way it has been.”

In an interview with ELLE Pugh mentioned how her confidence in her body comes from not hiding herself; she said, “I speak the way I do about my body because I’m not trying to hide the cellulite on my thigh or the squidge in between my arm and my boob”.

The actress refers to a pink Valentino dress she wore that revealed her nipples; she said “It’s the freedom that people are scared of; the fact I’m comfortable and happy. Keeping women down by commenting on their bodies has worked for a very long time. I think we’re in this swing now where lots of people are saying, ‘I don’t give a shit.’”

 

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Similarly in her interview with Complex, Eilish spoke of how she felt she needed to change up her style so her music wouldn’t be constantly linked to her style. She explained how she swapped the oversized shorts and t-shirts for “pink nails, blonde hair, skirts, dresses, button-ups, bras, and lingerie” for her Happier Than Ever Album.

She added, “I really just did it to prove a point. I was just like, ‘Fuck you guys. I can do whatever I want. And then I can go back to what I was doing before, and you guys can eat it.'”

Selena Gomez has also been a leading light when it comes to body positivity. The singer and actress who has spoken publicly about her battle with the autoimmune disease, Lupus, has clapped back at body shamers numerous times on her socials. The star spoke candidly on a TikTok livestream in 2023 explaining the effects of her medication on her body.

She ended the live stream stating: “I love you guys and thanks for supporting me and understanding, And if not, go away, because honestly, I don’t believe in shaming people for their body.”‘

Many say that it comes with the job when you are famous, but surely in the 21st century tearing someone down for the way they look is completely and utterly not okay? In a world where looks are so intricately scrutinised online and the green-eyed monster sits patiently waiting for its next victim, those with a platform should be shining light on this sensitive topic.

 

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With such a young audience now having access to online content, showing them that it is okay to have imperfections, cellulite and stomach rolls could lead them to grow up to embrace their natural looks and not feel the need to hide them because they don’t appear in mainstream media.

So, yes whilst we can all work to make the world a more body positive place, it is those at the top like Billie Eilish, Selena Gomez, Florence Pugh and big brands like the aforementioned Brandy Melville who hold the most influence.

Whether we like to believe it or not, we are all in some ways influenced by what is portrayed on our socials; so, maybe opening up Instagram and seeing someone dress authentically like themselves and embracing their looks would make the world a much happier place.