Shawn Mendes opens up about his body image and self-esteem: “If you don’t work out, you’re going to lose fans.”

[Jordan Miller]

Shawn Mendes admits his celebrity pressured him to stay fit, despite yearning to relax more. 

In a new interview with British GQ, Mendes says he felt like he had to live up to a certain ideal the public had of him. 

From the interview:

Quote

“I held myself accountable to that image of not doing anything wrong, or saying anything wrong, so hard over the last few years,” he says. He knows, however, that this USP has been part of his power: “It’s not that that’s got me here. But it is a part of where I am.”

He knew he didn’t have to be perfect, he says. Everyone who loved him told him that. They would tell him, “You are not your body. You are not your voice. You are not your songs. You are you and people love you because of you.”

But the voice in his head said otherwise. “Some days I would have three hours of sleep, [because] I’d get up two hours early just to be able to work out”, all to quiet the nagging neurosis that would tell him, “If you don’t work out, you’re going to lose fans.”

His Calvin Klein campaign didn’t help. He had connected his identity with being a “pinnacle of fitness” and the struggle for perfection was beginning to get to him. But a few things helped: he started meditating and journalling. He signs off every entry with the same message to himself: “Love you, man, got your back.”

He also saw how Cabello’s body was treated by the public and the press, which he knows is ten times more intense than the scrutiny he faced. But then he also saw how she responded. “So strong, so clear and confident with her [body] and so articulate and empathetic about other people’s,” he recalled, “and it really changed my view of mine. It really changed my life.” He realised that “taking that extra few hours of sleep, instead of waking up to pump iron, is a better choice sometimes”.

Photos: GQ 

[FullyDattAndDatt3full]

however, good sleep is more than half of the equation.

going to sleep now

bye

[FullyDattAndDatt3full]

also i like Shawn either way

 

[FullyDattAndDatt3full]

anyway i am not exactly wanting to bring examples but i assume there are a few examples of artists who have tried to escape fame by becoming less ****, here and there

no surprise there that things are about ***iness

of course it still makes me happy he speaks out about it

[thebritmaster]

Dude is really talented with the guitar but his documentary shows all his fans are young women 

He needs to connect with a bro-ier audience ala Sheeran or Mayer if he wants longevity. fans that would care more about the music than his pecs 

[Dexwhitespears]

The kind of crap people speak nowadays to compensate for lack for (for lack of a better word) talent! 

 

 

 

 

[redacted statement]

He looks so much better like this. I had never been attracted to Shawn before, but I'd be lying if I said the first pic didn't get my juices flowing. Must be the socks and the open shirt. 

[MonAmour]

I believe he's losing relevancy. It's scaring him. He's starting to look more.. feminine? Not that it's a bad thing, but I definitely believe he has a dark secret that's hidden. It'll come out. 

[soweird101]

14 minutes ago, MonAmour said:

I believe he's losing relevancy. It's scaring him. He's starting to look more.. feminine? Not that it's a bad thing, but I definitely believe he has a dark secret that's hidden. It'll come out. 

It'll come out?  I think you meant HE'll come out.  The problem with Shawn is that nothing about him is genuine or real.  He think he needs to be this idea of perfect without realizing that people flock to celebrities they can relate to.  He's too busy worrying about what people think or his fans instead of being his authentic self.   I think his strong feminine traits terrify him but he needs to realize that he'll be much happier [and more in the public eye] if he actually came out.  Let's be real, his fan base by now has to realize how badly manufactured he is - nothing about him is real.

[GMFlop]

A lot of pop stars suffered from this but if you're ambitious enough to follow the stardom then you must suffer the requirement of being a star. Not everyone can be Adele, Stevie Wonder and others who doesn't need to be a *** symbol to make it. 

[Alexanda]

This comment is so disgusting. No Shawn, get out!

Only important when you are a *** sells kinda guy. 

And men can easily avoid that, better than women. 

[Jamie Lynn Forever]

hes cute

but his music is very basic

[MonAmour]

55 minutes ago, soweird101 said:

It'll come out?  I think you meant HE'll come out.  The problem with Shawn is that nothing about him is genuine or real.  He think he needs to be this idea of perfect without realizing that people flock to celebrities they can relate to.  He's too busy worrying about what people think or his fans instead of being his authentic self.   I think his strong feminine traits terrify him but he needs to realize that he'll be much happier [and more in the public eye] if he actually came out.  Let's be real, his fan base by now has to realize how badly manufactured he is - nothing about him is real.

I don't want to "assume" people's genders or ***ual orientations or Jordana Agatha Miller will suspend me again.

[CristMont]

I WANT TO LICK HIS BODY AND SUCK HIS **** THE ENTIRE NIGHT 

[Invitation]

THE CHEST HAIR 

[Groundbreaking]

To me, he comes off as scared little child right now. He can be scared of flopping so that he has to bring up this. I mean, I do understand where that is coming from. Yet there's something off with him these days. Firstly, those deadly walks with Camila. Secondly, a documentary that was not an actual documentary. Thirdly, that mess with Justin B mentoring him. Then messy music. Now this. Can he be burned out or depressed?

[PickleSpears]

he used to be hot

[NobodyKnowsPete]

2 hours ago, Jordan Miller said:

Shawn Mendes admits his celebrity pressured him to stay fit, despite yearning to relax more. 

In a new interview with British GQ, Mendes says he felt like he had to live up to a certain ideal the public had of him. 

From the interview:

Photos: GQ 

Well, that’s a little bit superficial... But is better than Sam Smith’s idea about getting fit. I think they can learn something from each other...

[PopIcon22]

Shawn and Camilla look so much alike like brother and sister   

[Broccoli Spears]