She took her shirt off in front of everyone.
Ever since Billie Eilish has become famous, the singer has tried to hide her body as much as possible. That’s why she uses baggy clothes that conceals her figure, since, as a minor, she didn’t want anyone to sexualize her.
It was a pretty effective way to achieve that, because no one had any idea what she really looked like.
However, during one of the stops of her concert tour in Miami, she stunned her fans by stripping off her shirt while making a powerful statement about her body and the control each woman should have over their own.
The moment undoubtedly came as a surprise to her followers, who started screaming in excitement when they saw her in a tank top – just like the one she stopped wearing after a guy sexualized her – but then she took a step further and got took it off.
The 18-year-old girl chose to show her body this time, emphasizing the same message: she doesn’t want to be sexualized.
Instead, she took ownership of her body, her sexuality and of her choice of when and how to show herself.
And this was her message while she was stripping herself of her clothes:
You have opinions
about my opinions,
about my music,
about my clothes,
about my body.
Some people hate what I wear,
some people praise it.
Some people use it to shame others,
some people use it to shame me.
But I feel you watching
Always
And nothing I do goes unseen
So while I feel your stares,
your disapproval
or your sighs of relief,
if I lived by them,
I’d never be able to move.
Would you like me to be smaller?
Weaker?
Softer?
Taller?
Would you like me to be quiet?
‘Do my shoulders provoke you?
Does my chest?
Am I my stomach?
My hips?
The body I was born with,
is it not what you wanted?
If what I wear is comfortable,
I am not a woman.
If I shed the layers,
I am a slut.
Though you’ve never seen my body,
you still judge it
and judge me for it.
Why?
You make assumptions about people
based on their size.
We decide who they are.
We decide what they’re worth.
If I wear more,
if I wear less,
who decides what that makes me?
What that means?
Is my value based only on your perception?
Or is your opinion of me not my responsibility?
-Billie Eilish
You can see the video here:
Obviously after this powerful message, her fans exploded with excitement and even took to Twitter to comment on the performance:
There is no doubt that the revelation of her body was totally intentional, and that she wants the world to know that she’s fully aware of who those who judge or sexualize her are.
You’re an idol, Billie!