Camila Cabello on catwalks and dealing with public criticism of her body

From fashion houses launching beauty lines to epic collaborations, who doesn’t love when the worlds of beauty and fashion come together? Luckily for us, L’Oréal Paris, the official partner of Paris Fashion Week this year, presented a historic show unlike any other on October 1st. The iconic Esplanade served as the backdrop for the show, titled “Le Défilé Walk Your Worth”. Eiffel Tower. The event, now in its sixth year, not only symbolizes the perfect combination of beauty and fashion, but also embodies L’Oréal Paris’ deep vision of inclusivity and sisterhood.

Set against the stunning backdrop of the Eiffel Tower, Le Défilé Walk Your Worth is a beacon of empowerment, a bold statement of feminine and feminist strength that resonates across the globe. It is consistently an evening that unites audiences around the world, transcending boundaries and proclaiming the worth of every person.

This year’s show featured an inclusive and diverse line-up, a testament to L’Oréal Paris’ commitment to celebrating beauty in all its forms. On the sparkling catwalk we saw such iconic representatives as the incomparable Kendall Jenner, the flamboyant Eva Longoria and the timeless Helen Mirren. But there was one woman we were especially excited to see her talent transfer from sold-out stadiums to the runway: Camila Cabello.

There’s no denying that Cabello made her mark on the runway with her iconic walk-and-meet performance. We had the honor of chatting with the star just hours before the event, where we discussed runway nerves, her growing up in the public eye, her views on body image and self-acceptance, and more.

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The L’Oréal Paris Walk Your Worth show is all about inclusivity and women’s empowerment. What do these words mean to you?

“For me, female empowerment is about feeling supported by your friends and the women around you. There really is such energy and such a feeling here. L’Oreal. I’m so excited to come to events where there are other girls because I get to meet amazing, inspiring women who are girls, you know? I can make new friends.”

What does it feel like to walk down such an important runway like this? Is it a different set of nerves you experience headlining a show?

“I get much more nervous when performing. Honestly, it’s a lot of fun. I feel like a model. But no – because if I don’t do a good job, I won’t be fired. (Laughs)”

Did you enter the industry at such a young age? How did he grow in the public eye?

“There are definitely difficult things involved with this. I’ve had to go through phases where I was more of a recluse, kind of hiding and almost pretending I wasn’t in the public eye, just for the sake of my mental health. And I think that was very helpful. I think I’m dipping in and out. Be it being on or accessing social media. There are times in my life when I actually forget that I’m in the public eye, even though I am. And a few months later I go back on social media and say, “Oh, they have all these terrible pictures of me.” (Laughs)”

How have you dealt with the pressure to look a certain way in your industry?

“I definitely feel it sometimes. And it’s like a public attention issue where I think there are chapters in my life that I just don’t care about, I don’t want to feel like I’m in the public eye. So I won’t think about it, I won’t think about people criticizing or looking at my body, I’ll just live as if it’s not happening. I’ve had healthy times where my weight probably fluctuated a lot and I thought, “Whatever.” I’m just going to live my life like a normal person.” And there are other times when I feel more exposed or vulnerable; I see more of my photographs, I am more in touch with this part of the work. And then I definitely feel the pressure. But I think for me there just has to be a line that you draw where you say, ‘I have to take care of myself,’ and it’s cool within the confines of being honest without giving myself away.”

Likewise, you’ve been very open about your struggles with anxiety. How do you do this?

“It used to be a lot worse when I was younger; it’s much better now. Therapy really helped me a lot. My therapist really helped me with a lot of little things. And honestly, maybe it’s your brain developing faster because I definitely had a rough patch of mental health when I was in my early 20s, but I feel a lot better now.”

You have been a solo artist for many years. Do you miss the camaraderie that comes with being in a group or group?

“In a lot of ways, I’ve had the same thing with the people I collaborate with, like in the studio, with my producers, where sometimes we really feel like a band. Music is just such a collaborative process. I write things, but other people play instruments, other people feed off my melodies, and I feed off their chords. So, honestly, it’s a really nice and healthy collaboration.”

You are a singer and songwriter. What lyrics are you most proud of writing?

“It’s very difficult for me to answer this question because I’m currently working on my new album, so there are lyrics that I can’t say until they’re released. But of the songs that have been released, I really like my song “In the Dark.” It’s one of my favorite songs, the whole song.”