There are many reasons to love Billie Eilish: she’s a trailblazer in fashion (who else can pull off Gucci Grunge AND Marilyn Monroe glamour?), she loves experimenting with different beauty looks, and she’s – quite frankly– the role model we all wish we had in our teens. She’s also been vocal about the struggles of being a young woman in the public eye.
In an interview with ELLE, Billie spoke about her fans’ reaction to her transition away from the signature baggy clothes of her teenage years, towards more closely-fitted pieces, such as the corset she wore on the cover of British Vogue earlier this year. She said, “People hold on to these memories and have an attachment. But it’s very dehumanizing.”
Billie referred to a recent Instagram post, in which she shared a photo of her wearing a corset with a lace bra visible underneath, saying, “I lost 100,000 followers, just because of the boobs,” before adding, “People are scared of big boobs.”
As well as losing followers, Billie was subjected to abhorrent comments, such as “Wonder how long before we actually get to see them,” and “[She] went from being an anti-pop public figure to being literally like everyone else.” These comments demonstrate how Billie is simultaneously sexualised and held to impossible standards by her fanbase and the world at large.
Billie also explained how it feels to have all her outfit choices scrutinised, saying, “The other day, I decided to wear a tank top. It wasn’t even a provocative shirt. But I know people are going to say, ‘Holy f*ck, she’s dressing sexy and trying to make a statement.’ And I’m like, ‘No, I’m not. It’s 500 degrees and I just want to wear a tank top.’”
This comes after Billie wore a gorgeous Oscar de la Renta gown to the 2021 Met Gala, saying, “”I’ve always wanted to do this. I was just scared […] I didn’t feel comfortable in my skin, and it was time.”
As always, we salute you Billie.
For more from Glamour UK’s Lucy Morgan, follow her on Instagram @lucyalexxandra.