Subtitle: The Canadian singer reflects on body image struggles, unhealthy habits, and how menopause has reshaped her relationship with herself.
Shania Twain has spoken candidly about her experience of menopause, describing it as a “very good” and transformative phase in her life after years of struggling with body image and self-esteem.
In an interview published by The Times on Saturday, 13 June, the 60-year-old singer reflected on a difficult period during her Las Vegas residency in 2019, when she says she could not bear to look at her reflection.
“I stopped looking at myself in the mirror. I hated my body. I’m like, ‘Oh, I cannot stand this changing body,’” Twain said. “But that was so unhealthy. Who cannot look at themselves in the mirror?”
The Queen of Me artist explained that as she grew older, her body began to change in ways she found difficult to manage, particularly during menopause, which affected her sense of control over her health and appearance.
“So all of a sudden I’m bloating, and I’m definitely not in control,” she said. “I can’t just lose five pounds. I was doing very unhealthy things.”
Twain also revealed that her focus on maintaining a certain body shape led her to restrict her eating habits, which had serious consequences for her wellbeing and performance.
“I was working my body more than I was feeding it to keep up with the strain,” she noted, adding that she had stopped eating properly in an attempt “to be thinner”, which ultimately left her malnourished and contributed to a worsening on-stage injury.
After more than five years of challenges, Twain said she now feels significantly more at peace with her body and mindset.
“Now I’m like, bring on the mirrors, I’m going to look at myself all day long,” she said. “Menopause has been very good for me because I’ve learned that some things you cannot control.”
Her comments highlight a broader conversation around ageing, body image and women’s health in the entertainment industry, as more public figures speak openly about the physical and emotional impact of menopause.
Twain, who has long been one of country pop’s most successful global stars, said the experience ultimately forced her to reassess her habits and develop a healthier, more accepting relationship with her body.
