Billie Eilish interview with Vogue UK is a dynamic and personal step for the singer who is claiming her narrative without fear.
Watch: Billie Eilish transforms her iconic black and green hair to blonde.
Billie Eilish is having a moment of metamorphosis in front of our eyes as Vogue’s May cover star.
She speaks to writer Laura Snapes with strength and uses her voice to redefine the constraints imposed on Billie and girls everywhere navigating this restrictive and patriarchal world.
The images also shout out loud that Billie is here to subvert whatever restrictions have been imposed on her by the media, and she chose to don a “classic, old-timey pin-up” look that was inspired by Betty Brosmer, Elmer Batter’s and Horst’s illusionist beauty shots.
These pictures are powerful because it is just THAT rare for a young female singer to have such undeniable agency over her image, that this choice to break away from her aesthetic is a move that commands reverence.
Last year, paparazzi snapped pictures of Billie outside of her iconic hoodie and baggie pants look and the images circulated around the internet to the choir of millions giving their opinion.
In the interview, the 19-year-old singer spoke about how those pictures and their conversation felt minimising and frustrating.
“It made me really offended when people were like, ‘Good for her for feeling comfortable in her bigger skin.'”
“Jesus Christ?! Good for me? F**k off!” She splutters with frustration. “The more the internet and the world care about somebody that’s doing something they’re not used to, they put it on such a high pedestal that then it’s even worse,” said Billie.
Billie is candid about her relationship with her body and she spoke openly about how it had triggered her depression and admitted her stomach is a big insecurity for her.
“If I’m honest with you, I hate my stomach, and that’s why,” said Billie.
The journalist notes in her feature that the young singer felt shallow for her admission about her stomach, but in reality, she speaks to many people who struggle to make peace with certain parts of themselves.
Of course, there is no denying her look in this photoshoot is a poignant moment for Billie that will come to define the story arch of her career in years to come.
But the star has considered that narrative in detail, and ultimately she is here to create for herself.
“‘If you’re about body positivity, why would you wear a corset? Why wouldn’t you show your actual body?,'” she said. ““Jesus Christ?! Good for me? F**k off!”
“The more the internet and the world care about somebody that’s doing something they’re not used to, they put it on such a high pedestal that then it’s even worse.”
Billie also spoke strongly and without hesitation about womanhood and the burden of power dynamics that stifle girls as they try to navigate slut-shaming and predators.
“Everybody’s like, ‘You can’t make a wife out of a h**’ – and it’s like, you’re attracted to that person, though. You created that person.
“Suddenly you’re a hypocrite if you want to show your skin, and you’re easy and you’re a slut and you’re a whore. If I am, then I’m proud. Me and all the girls are hoes, and f**k it, y’know? Let’s turn it around and be empowered in that. Showing your body and showing your skin – or not – should not take any respect away from you,” said Billie.
However, it was this part of the interview that really showed no fear of backlash.
“I really think the bottom line is, men are very weak.”
“I think it’s just so easy for them to lose it. ‘You expect a dude not to grab you if you’re wearing that dress?’ Seriously, you’re that weak? Come on! Go masturbate!”
Her words are strong.
Her words are necessary, and using her platform to permeate this stance within the zeitgeist is important.
Billie also spoke about her new single, Your Power which is about the abuse of minors and misconstrued power.
“It was very satisfying to scream,” said Billie. “Because I was very angry. There’s so much anger in those songs – anger and disappointment and frustration.
“It’s an open letter to people who take advantage – mostly men,”
When the interviewer asked Billie if the song is in response to the music industry, her answer proves she is here to focus on more than the conversations dominating Hollywood.
Billie is speaking to the experience of women, girls and men who are taken advantage of worldwide in every corner of society.
“I don’t know one girl or woman who hasn’t had a weird experience, or a really bad experience. And men, too – young boys are taken advantage of constantly,” said Billie.
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