At just 19 years old, singer and songwriter Billie Eilish has become one of the leading voices of her generation. She has many devoted fans, broken many records – including the youngest winner for the Grammy Album of the Year –  and has been put in the spotlight at a very young age. Known for her brightly colored hair and eccentric, baggy clothing, Eilish has recently been put in the spotlight for her controversial and revealing Vogue cover.

Eilish’s fame has come with a lot of hate. Millions of people’s opinions would be tough for anyone to deal with, but more so for a teenage girl. In the past, Eilish has used fashion to protect herself; her hair color often changes, but her clothing usually remains baggy.  

In a 2019 Calvin Klein ad, Eilish said, “That’s why I wear baggy clothes. Nobody can have an opinion because they haven’t seen what’s underneath.” Of course, people still criticized the clothing she chose to wear, and in 2020, when paparazzi released a photo of her in a tank top, she received the hate she was trying to avoid. 

Eilish once again broke the internet by changing her appearance to signify a new era of her music. Her June 2021 Vogue cover shocked the whole world. Eilish showed off her new blonde hair and multiple custom made corsets. Critics called Eilish a “sellout” for finally showing her body, while others questioned her decision to wear a corset if her message is supposed to be “body positivity.” In her interview with Vogue, Billie said, “My thing is that I can do whatever I want. It’s all about what makes you feel good.” 

I believe that what Eilish is doing is extremely important, and people should learn from her. Everyone will always have an opinion on how others choose to live their lives, even if it does not affect them. Women are often judged by society for their appearance and what they wear. Looking and dressing a certain way should not come with assumptions and judgement. Women are human beings that are more than just their physical appearance and clothing choices. 

Most people do not learn until later in life that your opinion of yourself is the only one that matters. Young people especially can learn something from Eilish. She does what she wants to make herself happy. Everyone deserves to be proud of how they look and wear whatever makes them happy.

Eilish’s new look represents her upcoming album titled “Happier Than Ever” that will be released July 30, 2021. A single from this album called “Your Power” was recently released. “Your Power” calls out people who abuse their power and take advantage of young girls and boys. 

Eilish knows she will face criticism for wearing revealing clothes while calling out people for taking advantage of others, but, by doing so, she is sending a powerful message about equality, self-love, and accountability. 

Eilish is spreading awareness that young people should learn to both express themselves and  protect and take care of themselves. Learning to ignore criticism is an important skill because the world will always have something to say, but you have the power to tune them out. Do what you want to make yourself happy. 

The following is a link to the Vogue article: https://www.vogue.co.uk/news/article/billie-eilish-vogue-interview