Body dysmorphia can be a dangerous, and utterly debilitating mental health condition. It takes the notion of being worried about your appearance to a new level, making you see flaws in yourself that are either exaggerated or non-existent.
Opening up about the problems this has caused, Doja Cat spoke exclusively to Cosmo ME about the scrutiny placed on her physical appearance and the pressures of constantly being in the spotlight.
“Growing up, I definitely had body dysmorphia. Without a doubt. And I’ve had it since,” Doja shares in our Winter Issue cover story. “It started in my teens, which I think is where it starts for a lot of people. I started really growing and I never really thought I looked good in a lot of the stuff I wore.”
Doja’s first platinum single, Juicy, is a chart-topping hit brimming with clever innuendos that celebrates women’s bodies, from stretch marks to cellulite.
“I feel like that song [Juicy] was therapeutic for me. I kind of made it for myself – well, the meaning behind it, at least. I was kind of doing it for my own happiness and I feel like other people can definitely pull some joy from that, too. Now, I just try to focus on eating well, but I definitely still struggle with body dysmorphia a bit now. But I think that’s to be completely expected when there’s all these phones in your face, right?”