Bellsavvy on Body Positivity and Self-Acceptance
Few recording artists can impact two vastly different cultural music scenes from the onset. Born in Brazil, now based in London, pop singer/songwriter Bellsavvy successfully infiltrated both the European and South American demographics.
She found her start on MTV Brazil's singing competition show "Studio Acesso Girls MTV", where Bellsavvy won over the hearts of over 1.8 million live viewers, who all voted for her performance. Her newfound fame thrusted her into the international spotlight through movies and music projects around Europe.
In her debut single, “Queen of my Mind”, Bellsavvy reflects on her industry experiences. She explores concepts of mental health and confronts obstacles such as body shaming and the perception of unobtainable body standards within the modeling industry. She dwells on the damaging consequences, more so, her personal afflictions, and sets an uplifting message of perseverance and acceptance. Please read our exclusive interview below to learn more about Bellsavvy.
Where are you based?
I'm based in London UK.
Growing up in Brazil, what are some of your early music memories?
For sure, my mom, rehearsing and being on stage. My mom is a singer too and I have so many music memories involving her. Since I was little, my contact with music was strong because of her. I remember when I was five, ten years old and I used to sing through my mom's entire setlist with her on her rehearsals. One of my favorite life memories actually.
What type of music was playing in your household, around your parents, friends, etc.?
A lot of rock 'n roll! My mom and my dad were always listening to classics of Rock like Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd, Queen, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and 80's classics like Depeche Mode, Tears For Fears, A-Ha, and Duran Duran, so I started listening to the same bands and artists while growing older and, of course, with my friends I started listening to a lot of my 2000's pop classics like Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Spice Girls, Christina Aguilera, etc.
Did your relationship with music change now that you are in London?
Oh yes! It got even more intense and alive. London definitely has such a strong musical scene, so many incredible artists to work with, many great opportunities to share your art around, I mean, people here are always so keen on being present and supportive to artists in music that you feel embraced and motivated! I’ve been breathing music almost 24/7 since I moved in.
What inspired you to get into music yourself?
My mom and the connection I have with music inside my heart. Music is my best friend, my lover, my shelter and absolutely nothing makes me feel as alive as music does. It's like magic!
You started out in modeling. Can you tell us a little bit about your experience with that?
It was literally a bad romance. I gave my soul to my modeling career, dedicated ten years of my life to it, changed myself physically and mentally to fit into their patterns and, as a consequence, I lost myself completely. In the beginning it all looks so amazing, so glamorous, a dream, but with time, when you start noticing that you are avoiding the most common human things, such as eating what you like, to maintain a certain body size, and being judged by it to keep moving forward with your career, you start realizing it's more of a nightmare than a dream. I was so blinded by this love I had for my modeling career that I couldn't see the dark reality that surrounds this industry.
In your new single, “Queen of My Mind”, you talk about your struggle with body shaming in the modeling industry. Can you tell us a little bit about this? How did modeling impact your self esteem?
I put my opened heart on this song, sharing this real-life experience I went through when I was body-shamed and rejected by the modeling industry. Once my body started changing shape and size, they rejected me. I lost my ten years of a successful career that I gave my life for, I lost my dreams, and with it also lost my self-love. The impact of being "never good enough" throughout my entire career and being massively rejected and body-shamed, in the end, destroyed me and I ended up having a mental breakdown that made me start writing "Queen Of My Mind " at that very moment. It gave me strength to keep going, healing and, with time, I found my self-love back again. I came back stronger than never, loving and accepting myself, so I decided to share it with the world, to encourage other people that might be struggling with any inner battle with themselves to find their inner strength and stand up for their self-love and self-acceptance to become the "Queen Of Their Minds". I overcame my inner battles and I found my self-love so you also can find yours and become "the queen of your own mind".
You also talk about its correlation with your mental breakdown. Do you feel you overcame these struggles?
After a long journey healing and recovering from it, yes! I no longer have these negative feelings inside myself. Today, I'm a different woman, a stronger woman fulfilled with self love.
What helped you build up your self love again?
Time and being kind to myself. We are humans, and we need time to heal. I had to be courageous and embrace myself since day one after that mental breakdown, even knowing it was going to be a long process to recover my self-love, and I had to keep pushing everyday, giving myself love and positivity to rewrite this internal negative idea that others put inside me with their judgments and mean words.
The fashion industry is slowly embracing people from all different shapes and sizes these days. What are your thoughts on this?
I think it’s still a long path until they really embrace it for real. While we keep seeing a "plus size" section in clothing stores, we are far from this real embracement cause. In the end, if they had embraced it, we wouldn't be having PLUS size tags on clothes cause all sizes would be a "normal" size, from size 0 to 60. It wouldn't need a different denomination for it, right?
Do you feel you would have had a different experience with modeling if you were modeling today?
Now, with the new curvy departments in the modeling agencies, yes. But only if I was a curvy model. As a ‘regular' model, the pressure would be the same. Nothing really changed in it.
Do you have any advice for those struggling with body issues, mental health, or general problems associated with self-confidence?
Please be kind to yourself, give yourself time and be strong. Embrace your uniqueness. Don't consume any content that does not collaborate with you loving yourself. Don't allow people to occupy such a place of speech inside of you with their judgments. You are the only person who can tell yourself who you are. You will find your inner strength to overcome your inner battles.
What actions are you taking to stay healthy mentally and physically during this time?
Exercising, dancing and therapy. HIIT training, Muay Thai and dancing are my favorite ones. They strengthen my body, mind and spirit daily and, of course, my therapist gives me the support I need as a maintenance.
What is your motto in life?
Dreams are made to come true. So do it!
To learn more about Bellsavvy, please follow her via the following platforms:
www.bellsavvymusic.com
Instagram: bellsavvy
YouTube: bellsavvy
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5mKLZzoTtcbDmwuuHPy6t8?si=jvehevDrSaStmHwD9RJJfQ
Photography by Luiza Marmentini.
