Shania Twain makes honest confession about constant battle with body image

Shania Twain confesses menopause helped her overcome years of body image struggles after a period in which concerns about her appearance led to unhealthy dieting and overexercising.

Speaking to The Times in an interview published Saturday, the 60-year-old singer reflected on the pressures she placed on herself while performing during her 2019 Las Vegas residency.

Twain said she became increasingly focused on losing weight and maintaining a certain appearance, pushing her body beyond healthy limits.

“In menopause you lose control of your body,” she told the newspaper. “So all of a sudden I'm bloating and I'm definitely not in control. I can't just lose five pounds.”

Shania Twain Says Dieting Left Her Malnourished

The singer revealed that her efforts to become thinner eventually left her malnourished. During the residency, she tore two thigh muscles and at one point had to be carried off stage.

“I was doing very unhealthy things,” Twain said. “And I was working my body more than I was feeding it, to keep up with the strain.”

The physical setbacks forced her to reassess her approach to health and self-image.

Twain said she reached a stage where she avoided looking at her reflection before performances because she struggled to accept changes to her body.

“I stopped looking at myself in the mirror. I hated my body,” she said. “I'm, like, ‘Oh, I cannot stand this changing body.’ But that was so unhealthy. Who cannot look at themselves in the mirror?”

Menopause Helped the Singer Accept Her Changing Body

As her recovery progressed, Twain said she gradually adopted a different perspective, accepting that some aspects of ageing and menopause were beyond her control.

“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 learnt that some things you cannot control.”

The country star has previously spoken about the lessons she learned during menopause. In a 2023 interview with the New York Post, she said the experience helped her stop dwelling on insecurities and focus on self-acceptance.

“Just love yourself now. Just get over your insecurities — they're standing in your way,” Twain said at the time.

Her comments come as more high-profile women discuss their experiences with menopause and perimenopause publicly. Actress Katherine Heigl and Gabrielle Union are among those who have recently spoken about the physical and emotional challenges associated with the transition.

For Twain, the experience ultimately marked a turning point.

“Fear is standing in your way,” she previously said. “Just love yourself now.”