Britney Spears‘ performance at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday marked a triumphant return to the iconic award show and the forefront of pop culture.
Taking the stage at the VMAs for the first time in a decade, as Spears showcased her single “Make Me” off her new album Glory, the pop princess reigned supreme, glistening in a sheer yellow ensemble with an evident new attitude.
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But not all that glitters is actually gold. Despite her performance at Sunday’s ceremony, behind closed doors the “I’m a Slave 4 U” singer has battled with anxiety. Spears detailed the affects of the disorder in an interview with Marie Claire UK saying, “If a hair was out of place, I’d be so anxious. I would get very anxious about so many things.”
Anxiety can take a serious toll on the mental health of a person, especially celebrities whose lives are open books and are subject to public scrutiny. Many celebrities turn to different outlets to overcome such a stifling disorder. After her infamous breakdown back in 2007, Britney started to overcome her disorder by shying away from the limelight to re-group and focus on motherhood. Her sons have played a major part in her growth.
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“Becoming a mother and being with my boys [Jayden, 9, Sean Preston, 10] has made me so much more accepting of myself,” she said. “I’m their mom, whatever. That has been a really big thing for me over these last few years.”
Spears also revealed that being an international pop icon doesn’t necessarily make dating any easier.
“I had a really bad date,” she said. “I mean, it was really bad. I’ve been single for ages and had a date with a guy I liked. I was getting anxious, worrying he wouldn’t like me. In the evening I got on the scales and I had lost six pounds…. We went to the movies, but I could tell right away it wasn’t working. It was sort of awkward. So after the movie I came home and that was it. It just didn’t work […] He just wasn’t that into me. I liked him. He knew that. But he definitely didn’t feel the same. It happens to everybody. Being famous doesn’t make you any different.’