Janet Jackson Speaks Out About Insecurities And Not Feeling Sexy Until Her 30s
At 52 years old, Janet Jackson may be complete #BlackGirlMagic to her fans, but you’d be surprised to know the icon has dealt with her own insecurities—including not finding her sexy until her 30s.
Opening up to InStyle for their October beauty issue, “The Pleasure Principle” singer shared with the magazine exactly when she found her sexy vibes.
“I got out of a funky relationship and finally got back to me,” Janet shared. “I went to therapy, which was all about finding that thing you like about yourself. The realization that, you know what, you’re not so bad after all.”
Growing up as a child star alongside her extremely talented family, Janet recalls the first time she wore makeup while working at the age of 8 or 9 and feeling as though it was, “too much makeup.”
“I remember growing up and being in this business was always this important thing,” Janet shared about self-image in the entertainment industry. “Because it was the thing. And you had to be a certain size, you had to be thin to be an entertainer. Stupid crap like that. That’s just this business I’m in. I think it’s changed, thank God. People are more accepting of others. Which is the way it should’ve been from the jump. That can really mess with you.”
When asked about what she was most insecure about before that she’s most secure about now, the mother of one confessed it’s her body.
“I would have to say my body,” Janet said before adding, “A lot of it has to do with experience, getting older. Understanding, realizing that there isn’t just one thing that is considered beautiful. Beautiful comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. I had to find something in my body that I loved, and that was difficult for me to do.”
So what’s the something she loves the most on her body? After tears and spending time looking in the mirror, Janet declares it’s the small of her back.
“At first, I couldn’t find anything. I would look in the mirror and start crying. I didn’t like that I was not attractive. I didn’t like anything about me. But I wound up falling in love with the small of my back. And then from there, I found more things.”
In fact, she also learned to love her signature smile.
“And then finally realizing my smile isn’t that bad after all. I thought I looked like the Joker because it was so big,” Jackson shared with InStyle.
As for what she feels what makes other women beautiful, Janet shares, “Lots of different things. It’s vulnerability. It’s power. It’s confidence. It’s happiness. It’s seeing the goodness in the soul. It’s spirituality. It’s being selfless and what you do for others before doing for yourself.”
Preach! We cannot help but agree.
Want to read more? The October issue of InStyle hits newsstands on Sept. 14.