Shania Twain has candidly opened up about her changing relationship with her body, revealing that menopause ultimately helped her embrace self-acceptance after years of struggling with insecurities.
The country music superstar, 60, admitted there was a period when she couldn't bear to look at her reflection and was resorting to unhealthy habits in an effort to maintain her weight.
© Instagram'I hated my body'
Speaking to The Times, Shania reflected on a difficult chapter during her Las Vegas residency in 2019, when she found herself battling negative thoughts about her appearance.
"I stopped looking at myself in the mirror. I hated my body," the singer admitted.
"I'm, like, 'Oh, I cannot stand this changing body.' But that was so unhealthy. Who cannot look at themselves in the mirror?"
Today, however, the Grammy-winning star says she feels completely differently. "Now I'm like, bring on the mirrors, I'm going to look at myself all day long!" she said.
© Getty ImagesThe unexpected gift of menopause
While menopause can be a challenging transition for many women, Shania says it ultimately taught her a valuable lesson about letting go of unrealistic expectations. "Menopause has been very good for me because I've learned that some things you cannot control," she explained.
The singer revealed that she struggled as her body began changing and found herself frustrated that her old methods for maintaining her weight no longer worked. "So all of a sudden I'm bloating, and I'm definitely not in control. I can't just lose five pounds," she recalled.
© Ron Galella Collection via GettyThe unhealthy habits she regrets
Shania admitted she pushed herself too hard physically while failing to properly nourish her body. "I was doing very unhealthy things," she said. "And I was working my body more than I was feeding it to keep up with the strain."
The star revealed that her efforts "to be thinner" eventually left her malnourished and even worsened an injury she sustained while performing.
Looking back, she now recognises just how damaging that approach was.
Embracing confidence at 60
This isn't the first time Shania has spoken openly about body confidence and ageing.
© Getty ImagesIn 2023, the singer made headlines when she posed nude for the cover artwork of her album Queen of Me, describing it as a celebration of self-acceptance.
"Well, I'm the opposite from being an exhibitionist," she told the New York Post at the time. "But I like to feel sexy, and I like to enjoy my body more now than ever."
'I'm perfectly the way I should be'
The singer revealed that despite being younger, she was actually far more self-conscious about her appearance. "I used to hate my body. So when my body was young and, I guess, maybe one wouldn't be afraid of exhibiting it, I was hiding it a lot," she explained.
Today, Shania says she has learned to embrace exactly where she is in life. "I'm perfectly the way I should be. This is the way I should be at my age. I'm fine with it. And I'm not afraid of it anymore. It's all good."
A powerful message for women
Reflecting on the lessons menopause has taught her, Shania said the experience forced her to confront insecurities she had carried for years.
"Menopause taught me to quickly say, 'You know, it may only get worse. So just love yourself now. Just get over your insecurities — they're standing in your way. And fear is standing in your way.'"
