Sam Smith's journey to body confidence after heartbreaking childhood trauma
Sam Smith has undergone a huge transformation after bursting onto the music scene in 2013.
The singer - who came out as non-binary in 2019 - has been very open about their battle with confidence and body image issues.
During an appearance on Jameela Jamil's I Weigh podcast this year, Sam described their thoughts around their weight as "the basis of all my sadness."
"Literally everything I’ve ever been sad about is my weight,” said Sam, adding: "I struggle with it every day."
The chart-topping singer revealed they underwent liposuction at 12-years-old after being bullied at school.
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Sam said they were teased for "holding a lot of weight in my chest" and during one "horrible" incident had their "breasts grabbed at" by a boy in the playground.
Sam Smith was bullied at school over his weight (Instagram)
The singer had liposuction at the age of 12 (Instagram)"At the time, I think I was very happy about it. [The surgery] didn’t really change anything. I think I put the weight back on in two weeks because I haven’t figured out my relationship with food, so it didn’t really change anything.
"But being 12 years old and having liposuction on your chest is quite a big deal," Smith told Jamil.
After rocketing to global fame in their early twenties, Smith would often hide their figure with slimming all-back outfits and long coats.
But in 2015, Smith decided to take back control of their body issues.
Smith kept their figure covered up after being propelled into the public eye (Instagram)
In 2015 Sam worked with nutritional expert Amelia Freer and lost three stone (Instagram)The star shed three stone - including one in just two weeks with the help of nutritional therapist Amelia Freer, whose advice to clients included chewing on herb-infused ice cubes and banning sugar.
The food expert Freer's book Eat. Nourish. Glow. became an overnight bestseller off the back of Sam’s high praise, and Amelia – who has also advised celebs including James Corden and Boy George – had to close her client waiting list.
The book advises not to pile your fork too high and "Eat as though you are having dinner with your future parents-in-law."
Sam admits the pressure of being in the spotlight hit them hard (Splash News)
Smith at the 2016 Oscars, pictured with songwriter Jimmy Napes (Getty)Smith stuck to the plan and managed to keep the weight off for years.
In 2015 Sam hit the big time in Hollywood with their soundtrack to James Bond's Spectre, Writing's on the Wall, being a critical and commercial worldwide hit propelling them to the big time.
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However, Sam spoke of their struggles with fame at this time.
"After the Oscars, I started going out too much, not respecting myself, drinking loads and smoking," they told Billboard in 2017.
Sam arrives at the BRIT Awards 2023 (Dave Benett/Getty Images)
The singer donned a sparkly one piece suit for the Jingle Bell Ball in December (Scott Garfitt/Global/REX/Shutterstock)"I wasn't looking after myself; I was going into a bit of a spiral. I'd lost contact with friends, with family. It wasn't good."
However, a desire to get back in shape helped Sam come up with a plan and they started hitting the gym again, working out three times a week with a personal trainer, doing both cardio and weight training.
In 2019 Smith was praised by fans after sharing a topless beach picture and admitting they'd finally learned to accept themselves - 'curves' and all.
Sam Smith was praised for speaking out on their journey to acceptance (Instagram)They told their 11.4million followers: "In the past if I have ever done a photo shoot with so much as a t-shirt on, I have starved myself for weeks in advance and then picked and prodded at every picture and then normally taken the picture down.
"Yesterday I decided to fight the f*** back. Reclaim my body and stop trying to change this chest and these hips and these curves that my mum and dad made and love so unconditionally.
"Some may take this as narcissistic and showing off but if you knew how much courage it took to do this and the body trauma I have experienced as a kid you wouldn’t think those things."
The singer was flooded with compliments from their loyal legion of fans online (Instagram)
Sam Smith turned up the heat as they stripped down to animal print bikini bottoms (Instagram)Speaking to the Sunday Times this year, Sam proudly said they feel as though they have shed a lifetime of insecurity and now have the 'opposite of body dysmorphia'
"When I was 25, I came off tour exhausted," Smith said. "I looked to role models in the body world. Every time I went to the pool I felt self-conscious, but I forced myself to take my top off.
Sam shared snaps of them taking a stroll with a pal (Instagram)
The singer said they have the 'opposite of body dysmorphia' (Sam Smith/Instagram)"It paid off because I now have the opposite of body dysmorphia. I look fabulous. I’m finally getting a tan. I’m burnt in places I’ve never been burnt."
Sam capped off their year of change with a stunning bikini snap shared to Instagram on Christmas day, where they posed in nothing but a pair of leopard print bikini bottoms.
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