Culture April 4, 2022

Camila Cabello gets candid about body insecurity: 'I've never had a worse time at the beach'

Christian Vierig/GC Images via Getty Images
Camila Cabello on March 25, 2022 in London.

Camila Cabello is speaking out about body insecurity.

In an Instagram post she shared over the weekend, Cabello shared an essay about how she feels when she steps out in public in a bikini and knowing her photo will be taken by paparazzi.

"Every time I've gone to this beach club in Miami I get papped -- somehow when I check in paps know and get me in my bikini and every time I've felt super vulnerable and unprepared," Cabello wrote. "I've worn bikinis that were to[o] small and paid no mind to how I looked, then saw pictures online and comments and been so upset."

MORE: Camila Cabello shares video message about 'being at war with your body'

The singer went on, "I reminded myself when it impacted my self esteem that I was thinking the culture's thoughts and not my own. A culture who has gotten so used to an image of what a 'healthy' woman's body looks like that is completely not real for a lot of women."

Cabello, who is in the middle of doing press for her new album "Familia," which will be released later this week, said on Saturday that when she went to the beach she "held my core so tight my abs hurt" and was "self conscious of where the paps were the whole time."

The "Bam Bam" singer said the whole situation made her feel sad.

"I've never had a worse time at the beach," she said. "I felt the emptiness and sadness of our culture's thoughts that became my thoughts."

Christian Vierig/GC Images via Getty Images
Camila Cabello on March 25, 2022 in London.

Cabello has been open about her body image in the past. Following paparazzi photos that were taken last year of Cabello in workout clothes, the singer shared a candid message to fans about overcoming the pressure of beauty standards and being at peace with one's body.

In 2019, Cabello also fought back at body shamers in an Instagram post, which she also used to warn girls about how airbrushed bodies are becoming the "new norm."

MORE: Camila Cabello claps back at body shamers in fierce Instagram post

"I wanted to talk about this because we see pictures of women and praise them for looking good, for looking fit or "healthy," but what is healthy if you are so fixated on what your body looks like that your mental health suffers and you can't enjoy your life?" Cabello wrote in her Instagram post on Saturday.

"Intellectually, I know what I look like doesn't determine how healthy, happy, or sexy I am," she added. "Emotionally, the messaging I get from our world is loud in my own head."