In 2007, Britney Spears became one of the decade's most infamous pop culture moments when she shaved her head at a Los Angeles hair salon. Now, 16 years later, the pop star has revealed why she decided to do this.
In an excerpt from "The Woman Inside Me," a memoir published by People magazine, Spears reflects on that year — a particularly tumultuous one for the singer, when her every move, including a relationship with Kevin Federline has faced intense tabloid scrutiny over his public divorce.
"I was constantly under scrutiny growing up. Ever since I was a teenager, I've been looked at up and down and people told me what they thought of my body," Spears wrote. “Shaving my head and showing off was my way of fighting back.”
Britney was forced to grow her hair long
In the same excerpt obtained by People , the hitmaker explained that her court-ordered supervision took effect the year after she shaved her head. Spears has previously spoken about how conservatorship took away her bodily autonomy. Now, she has revealed that she didn’t even decide her hairstyle during that time.
"I had to grow my hair out and get back in shape," the singer wrote. “I had to go to bed early and take whatever medication they told me to take.”
Spears released four albums and had a successful residency in Las Vegas during the 14-year conservatorship, which ultimately ended in 2021. However, Spears wrote that she was "distracted" during that time.
"As far as my passion for singing and dancing, it was almost a joke at the time," she continued. “Thirteen years later, I feel like a shadow of myself.”
She's ready to share her story
" The Woman In Me " by Spears The book will hit shelves on October 24. This long-awaited memoir follows the life of one of the world's biggest pop stars, from her early years as an all-American teen idol to her legal troubles over the past decade.
The singer-songwriter revealed in an interview with People magazine ahead of the album's release that she felt empowered to share her story.
"For the past 15 years, even at the beginning of my career, when people would talk about me and tell me my story, I would sit back," Spears said. “Being free of conservatorship, I was finally free to tell my story without being influenced by those in charge of my life.”
