At 13 years old, Billie Eilish had an injury that resulted in the conclusion of her dance ambitions and wrecked her relationship with her own body. In an interview with Vogue, she opened up about her new-found feelings toward her body now that she is 21 and in a new place in her life and career.
Before becoming one of the biggest musicians in the world with seven Grammys and 19 total nominations, Billie Eilish aimed for a dance career before her body was dealt with an injury that would end those dreams. She attended Revolution Dance in Montrose, California, where she even recorded her hit Ocean Eyes for an original song to play at the recital. She ended up having a growth plate injury in her hip.
Uploading Ocean Eyes to her Soundcloud in 2015 led to a behemoth of a career in music, replacing her dance ambitions.
Billie Eilish on her body and fallen dance career due to injury
Over the years, Billie Eilish has been open about her body and the injury that happened almost a decade ago. The Apple TV+ documentary from 2021, The World’s A Little Blurry, explored her family dynamic, bodily issues, and the skyrocketing career that had blown up her life. The documentary showed the self-care needed when putting on physically demanding shows, as she is known for her bouncy, energetic performances.
Now, Billie Eilish looks at her injury as not something to define her body. She felt her body was “gaslighting” her, but now sees it as something “not out to get me.” Even her music is showing this new era of positivity for the musician as her 2021 record was titled Happier Than Ever, contrasting her previous records, which were darker with her introspective lyrics.
