BY: Denver Sean
Published 11 years ago
Jordin Sparks has a message of inspiration and confidence for those struggling with weight and self-image.
Over the last year, she’s lost 50 pounds after deciding to make a change to be healthier.
“I had gotten really sick,” the 24-year-old singer-songwriter told TODAY’s Jenna Bush Hager on Friday as part of “Love Your Selfie, Reclaiming Beauty” week. “And I was about to celebrate my birthday and I was like, ‘I should be in the prime of my life right now. I shouldn’t be feeling like this. I really need to make my health a priority.’ And that’s what I did.”
Sparks bravely spoke on national television, revealing her current weight and also what factors in her life led her to this point.
“I go anywhere from, like, 155 to 161,” she said. “So I’m right around there. That’s where I am. It feels really good. Yeah. Take that. That’s how much I weigh, Hollywood. Grrr.”
Although she’s made an effort to lose weight and be healthy, she says it was never about being a ‘size zero’ or looking like anyone else.
“Instead, I loved the way I looked before,” she said. “I was comfortable with how I looked. But, a lot of it has been really focusing on becoming healthier. And the plus side was that my body changed, which was awesome. It wasn’t about being a zero or a certain size or anything like that.”
Her journey has led Sparks to have a better relationship with the mirror and to become a role model for young women.
“I know that there are some women who struggle to even look themselves in the mirror,” she said. “And I hope that those women who are struggling can watch this and go, ‘You know what? I’m OK with who I am. And I’m beautiful in my own way.’”
Jordin stepped out in a bikini to help kick-off Tao’s Summer series in Vegas last week and she looked absolutely incredible. We definitely noticed a confidence that wasn’t always present before. On that moment, she says:
“And I walked out, and they were just like, ‘You look great,’” she said of her bikini look. “I was like, ‘Really? This is OK? Like, this bathing suit looks all right?’
“Because for me, that was such a huge thing to do. I don’t just walk around in bathing suits.”
She prepared herself to hear all types of things from critics across the internet, but says the criticism was overwhelmingly positive.
“It was empowering at the same time because I did it,” she said.
Her advice to other women who might be bathing suit shy is to just go out and have fun.
“Just go have a good time,” Sparks said. “And you know, rock your bathing suit, whether it’s a tankini or a one piece or a bikini or you have, like, a nice little sarong. Dress yourself up and go have a good time.”
Jordin’s message truly is an inspiration. Watch the video below!
