Billie Eilish brought to tears with question about her beauty

Superstar Billie Eilish has opened up on why she went vegan while being interviewed by her peers, including Ariana Grande – but it was a question from Nicki Minaj that left her in tears.

Pop sensation Billie Eilish has been brought to tears as she candidly admitted in a new interview that she “never really felt beautiful” and revealed the real reason she went vegan.

The ‘Birds of a Feather’ hit maker made the admission as she answered a serious of questions from entertainment and fashion industry peers including Ariana Grande and Idris Elba in a spread for May’s edition of British Vogue, which features Eilish as its cover star.

The questions ranged from the serious to the more trivial (including being asked by Sabrina Carpenter what her gas station order was).

But it was an observation and question from singer Nicki Minaj that left the 23-year-old singer in tears.

Billie Eilish during the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party. Picture: Getty Images

Minaj prefaced her query by referencing her perception of Eilish’s demeanour.

“This may be an odd question, but you seem to be a bit uncomfortable with how beautiful you are at times. I could be wrong.

“Many women from all walks of life have felt that their work was overshadowed by their beauty or their physical attributes.

“Was there ever a time in your career, or before you made it, when you wished people couldn’t see you and that they could only hear the music, and really get a chance to just listen to the written words?”.

Eilish responded, “Nicki, this question made me tear up a little.”

She continued saying, “I’ve never really felt very beautiful or seen myself in that way, so I definitely never struggled with the idea that it would overshadow anything, since I didn’t even really see it myself.

“I’ve had to really convince myself that I am beautiful. Being a woman is hard.”

US rapper Nicki Minaj during the 2024 Met Gala in New York. Picture: AFP

Eilish also revealed the real reason she decided to become vegan.

She told fashion designer Stella McCartney that she initially became a vegan “because I hated my body and I thought I would lose weight.”

Eilish then shifted her position to staying vegan to ethical grounds saying, “I learnt all about the dairy industry and the completely horrific and disturbing animal agriculture that we all just pretend is normal and OK.”

The interview follows Eilish appearing at Weekend 1 of Coachella on Sunday with Charli XCX as a guest performer to perform ‘Guess.’

It is the second year in a row since the singer has appeared on the main stage as a guest performer, being brought out by Lana Del Rey in 2024 to perform a duet of Eilish’s ‘Ocean Eyes.’

Eilish headlined the festival in 2022.

Originally published as Billie Eilish brought to tears with question about her beauty