In her new Netflix documentary Miss Americana, Taylor Swift opens up about her eating disorder and mental health struggles in regards to the media’s reaction to her weight and appearance over the years. With years of viral photographs and consistent media attention, Swift mentioned it is difficult for her to look at photos of herself.
She is vulnerable enough to go into detail about times in which she stopped eating and her struggles with body image. She brings up a difficult relationship with food and her experience with the negative psychology surrounding the culture of fitting into sample sizes and constant photoshoots.
Though she mentioned to Variety, in an exclusive interview, that she’s never spoken about the topic before, she said she’s more comfortable opening up about it now. In the film, Swift says several things that resonate with viewers in regards to body image.
Swift says, “If you’re thin enough, then you don’t have that ass that everybody wants. But if you have enough weight on you to have an ass, your stomach isn’t flat enough. It’s all just f—ing impossible.”
Furthermore, Swift opens up about other divisive life tribulations, such as Kanye West’s persistence in her life. In 2016, West released a song that name-dropped Swift. After Swift combatted his lyrics, Kim Kardashian West posted a recording of a phone call that appeared to show Swift’s approval of the lyrics, which include derogatory language directed at the pop star .
The incident spiraled in the public eye, and Swift opens up about the deep insecurities and struggles she faced when many people viewed her as evil and conniving.
Furthermore, Swift dives deep into her decision to post a message on social media explaining her decision to vote for democrat Phil Bredesen in the Tennessee Senate race, despite her lack of political affiliation throughout her career. Her desire to delve into politics stems from her experience in a sexual assault trial.
The behind-the-scenes look into her private life covers all the bases: from Kanye’s incident at the 2009 VMA’s, to body image and mental health, to her sexual assault by a DJ in 2013. Swift strays from being apologetic or closed off and is instead unabashed in her honesty to fans. The documentary presents a more complex image of Swift than we are used to.
Despite Swift’s general lack of openness in the past regarding her mental and emotional health, Miss Americana presents a new, authentic version of the star to audiences. Her strength and vulnerability are overwhelmingly apparent in this new documentary. It is sure to inspire and invigorate all Swifties, past and present.
Featured Image by Eva Rinaldi on Flickr
Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)
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