Shania Twain Talks How Posing Topless At 57 'Changed Everything'

Shania Twain is opening up about finding her confidence and how everything changed for her!

The music legend has been a household name for over three decades and is known for her powerful vocals and chart-topping hits. But in a recent interview, she revealed that one bold move changed her life in a whole new way. 

In an exclusive interview with Extra, the country music icon opened up about her new album, "Queen of Me," which she described as a personal exploration of her spirit and self-discovery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the conversation with host Jenn Lahmers delved into Twain's past struggles with body insecurities and her newfound confidence. The Canadian native revealed that she has been shy about her body since she was a young girl, to the point where she would avoid wearing bathing suits and going to the beach altogether. She explained:

"I would say probably really tortured by it from the age of 10."

Reflecting on her music video for the hit single "You're Still the One," the songwriter acknowledged that she was already 30 years old when she achieved her first radio hit. She described the video as a pivotal moment in her career, where she felt empowered to shed her inhibitions and showcase her natural beauty. Twain recalled it, saying:

"In that video, I'm braless, I'm allowing the platform of stepping out of my daily self into this world of video-making and making decisions that give me this freedom to, like, do things I wouldn't normally do in my daily life."

Despite becoming more confident over time, she acknowledged that facing her fears of nudity was a completely different experience altogether. "It meant, can I look at myself in the mirror with the lights on? Now, I'm really looking at myself and going, 'Okay, look, things are sagging... All kinds of things that, you know, I don't want to really show off,'" she confessed.

Nevertheless, the star decided to confront her fears and posed topless for the cover of her single "Waking Up Dreaming" at the age of 57. According to her, this experience was a transformative one. In her words:

"I do this naked photo shoot, and it changed everything for me."

"I want to be able to stand, but go, 'Yes, I am a woman that is comfortable in her own skin. It's not like I'm trying to show my nakedness to the world. I'm trying to show that confidence in your nakedness is necessary," she explained.

The pandemic played a significant role in her journey toward self-discovery, as she found inspiration and solace in isolation. "For me, being isolated can be a good thing, a time when I shut off outside stimulation, and I get creative," she said of the experience. 

Her latest album, "Queen of Me," is more than just a collection of songs, as she decided to take ownership of her story by sharing the catalyst for the album's theme. The Blast noted that while promoting the album on "Today," she cited past trauma as the motivation behind going nude.

"It's really about saying I was abused as a kid," she revealed. "My stepfather would fondle me up on the top and make me go without a shirt, and I was already maturing. The cringy horrible wanting to escape being in my own skin," she continued in the conversation with Hoda Kotb.

Twain publicly revealed her stepfather's actions for the first time in 2018 when she shared how she hid and flattened her breasts, wearing too small bras and doing everything possible to appear as unremarkable as possible. 

The Country superstar has never shied away from discussing her weight and body image. However, her recent significant weight loss reportedly raised concerns among her friends and family.

As reported by The Blast, a family friend expressed concern, stating that while they are used to Twain's focus on her body image, her current appearance was still alarming. The person said to Radar Online that "there's real fear she's developed bad habits from trying to achieve unrealistic goals." 

A physician's report also confirmed that the 57-year-old singer lost more than 30 pounds in just two years, which is particularly concerning given her 5'4 frame. The physician noted, "She needs to put some healthy weight back on or risk facing a host of health dangers."