Sam Smith Opens Up About Something Many Gay Men Struggle With In Private

Sam Smith talks about a lot of things in his new cover story for V magazine. The interview, conducted by none other than Sarah Jessica Parker (!! but also ??), finds him jumping from topic to topic, covering everything from money to media to learning how to stop falling in love with straight men.

Perhaps most importantly, the singer, whose album The Thrill of It All dropped in November, opens up about body image and how he struggled to feel okay in his skin as his fame grew.

It’s a brave new world! @samsmithworld takes center stage on the cover of #V111, the #DiscoveryIssue, surrounded by @lovegrace_e and a cast of 2018’s rising talents. In an interview by @sarahjessicaparker, Sam reflects on his career and shares his hopes for what lies ahead. Photographed by @nicolaformichetti Styled by @annatrevelyan Makeup by @satoko_paris Hair by @shonju Animation by @trochut #SamSmith wears @givenchyofficial #GraceElizabeth wears @giorgioarmani @jules_horn wears @balmain @jaadbelgaid wears @givenchyofficial Head to vmagazine.com to read the full interview. #V111 hits newsstands on 1/11. Pre-order your copy at vmagazineshop.com now. #linkinbio

A post shared by V Magazine (@vmagazine) on Jan 3, 2018 at 6:00am PST

“My body image is always going to be an issue. I need to constantly train myself to watch the right sort of films, to not look at certain ads and think that’s how my stomach should look. It’s something that I’m [fighting] every day. I think men should talk about it more,” he said.

He’s right: Men should talk about body image more, gay men in particular.

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Eating disorders and body dysmorphia are typically associated with straight, white, cis women from wealthier class backgrounds, but all different kinds of people struggle with these issues. Gay and bisexual men are disproportionately more likely to have fasted, binged, purged, or taken substances to control their weight when compared with straight men, according to the National Eating Disorders Association.

@samsmithworld is exactly the voice of freedom we need right now. Photographed by @nicolaformichetti and styled by @annatrevelyan for #V111, the #DiscoveryIssue, on newsstands 1/11. Pre-order now at vmagazineshop.com. Head to vmagazine.com to read the interview with @sarahjessicaparker. #linkinbio

A post shared by V Magazine (@vmagazine) on Jan 3, 2018 at 8:26am PST

“When I was shooting my first music videos, I just wasn’t happy with the way I looked, so I was trying to control the way the camera moved,” Sam told SJP. “I was constantly looking in the mirror, pinching my waist, weighing myself every day. Now, I’ve gotten to a place where I really love my stretch marks and I just enjoy my body.”

I never say “body goals” but if I did it would be that.