The 23-year-old music phenomenon opened up in a new British Vogue feature about how she once despised her now-famous name. “I absolutely hated my name when I was a kid,” Eilish admitted, explaining how constant comments about Billie being “a boy’s name” made her yearn for more traditionally feminine names like Violet or Lavender.
Named after her grandfather William and inspired by actress Billie Piper, the nine-time Grammy winner has completely reversed her perspective. “Now there’s no other name in the universe that could be my name besides Billie,” she said. “It really is the only possible choice for who I am.”
Eilish also addressed her evolving relationship with body image when responding to Nicki Minaj’s observation about her occasional discomfort with being seen as beautiful. “I never really felt very beautiful or seen myself in that way,” the “Ocean Eyes” singer confessed, revealing she’s had to consciously “convince myself that I am beautiful.” Her honest reflection comes amid her notable style evolution from oversized silhouettes to more form-fitting fashions in recent years.
The interview took a deeper turn when Stella McCartney asked about Eilish’s vegan lifestyle. The singer revealed she initially adopted the diet hoping to lose weight during periods of body insecurity, but ultimately stayed for ethical reasons after learning about “the completely horrific and disturbing animal agriculture that we all just pretend is normal and OK.” Eilish went vegan years after her family made the switch, developing a more nuanced understanding of the lifestyle’s moral dimensions.
Featuring questions from an all-star panel including Ariana Grande, Jane Fonda and Charli XCX, the wide-ranging conversation offered rare insight into Eilish’s personal growth – from a self-conscious teen uncomfortable with her name and appearance to a confident artist who has learned to embrace every facet of her identity. With two Oscars, two Golden Globes and legions of devoted fans now chanting the name she once disliked, Eilish’s
