Heart's Ann Wilson has opened up about her struggles with body shaming as a singer in the band during the 1980s when female artists were encouraged to be quality musicians and have a model-esque look.
During an appearance on the latest episode of Mind Wide Open, the IGTV series and podcast hosted by Chris Cornell's daughter, Lily Cornell Silver, Ann explained: “In the 1980s, that may have been the lowest of the low in terms of female acceptance that I've ever lived through. It was when the lowest premium was put on female 'naturalness' ever. At first, it was pretty fun to get all dressed up and have big huge hair and the make-up because it was theater, but it became the expectation.”
Ann also recounted an experience where she felt weighed down by public opinions and criticism. She said: “We were in an airport and I read this review from the night before that really just landed on me. It didn't even mention that I sang. I had to go find a restroom and get into a stall and just chill because I felt I was going to go crazy. I couldn't take all that personal criticism on a huge public scale. When I chilled out and finally came out, I was okay, but that kind of thing started happening which led to me having stage fright. Like, 'I don't even want to go out there.”
Ann added that she's made changes for her mental health through therapy and meditation.