Shania Twain Opens Up About Why She Felt 'Degraded' Because Of Her Body

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Shania Twain opened up about an abusive relationship with her stepfather, and why she tried to alter her appearance because of it.

Twain spoke about it in a new interview with The Sunday Times, revealing that she “hid myself and I would flatten my boobs,” to change her body image. She continued: “I would wear bras that were too small for me, and I'd wear two, play it down until there was nothing girl about me. Make it easier to go unnoticed. Because, oh my gosh, it was terrible — you didn't want to be a girl in my house. …Then you go into society and you're a girl and you're getting the normal other unpleasant stuff too, and that reinforces it. So then you think, ‘Oh, I guess it's just s---ty to be a girl. Oh, it's so s---ty to have boobs.’ I was ashamed of being a girl.

“All of a sudden it was like, well, what's your problem? You know, you're a woman and you have this beautiful body? What was so natural for other people was so scary for me,” the global superstar continued in her interview with the Times. “I felt exploited, but I didn't have a choice now. I had to play the glamorous singer, had to wear my femininity more openly or more freely. And work out how I'm not gonna get groped, or raped by someone's eyes, you know, and feel so degraded.”

Twain shared that, when she became a recording artist, she used her “body language” to caution others from approaching her too closely. She told the Times that she hopes young girls can learn “to exude that confidence.”

Twain is gearing up to release her next album Queen of Me, on February 3. The international icon will kick off her worldwide “Queen of Me Tour” months afterward, including several sold-out stops. Twain previously said that “these days, I'm feeling very comfortable in my own skin - and I think this album reflects that musically. Life is short and I want to be uplifted, colorful, unapologetic and empowered. I want to carry a clear message, particularly as a woman, to always remember my power and I hope the songs are a reminder to you, of that same power inside you!”


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