Kelsea Ballerini: What Beauty Means To Her Now

Kelsea Ballerini is among the celebrities in People magazine's new 2023 "Beautiful Issue." She told the publication how much her perception of beauty has changed.

Kelsea said, "Beautiful to me is happy right now, and that is very subject to change. I used to think it was very aesthetic, and I think it's much more internal now."

Ballerini admitted that she was a "pretty insecure" kid growing up in Knoxville, Tennessee. She struggled with an eating disorder as a teen until she finally got help at age 18. She told People, "I've learned that conversation is key. Whether it's an eating disorder or something else you feel shame around, as soon as you say it out loud to someone you trust, it creates conversation, and conversation creates community. When you have community, it's much easier for people to hold you accountable and guide you through the next season of whatever that trauma is."

While she struggled with self-image, she never doubted that she would make it in music. She said, "I'm very lucky because I had parents who let me try gymnastics, dance, all these different things. When I found music, I knew it felt different. My mom, specifically, watched it go from a hobby to a passion to a knowingness. Then she uprooted her life and moved me to Nashville when I was 15. I think since the day that we left Knoxville, that knowingness has been a driving force through every season of uncertainty."

Kelsea added, "I think I would tell 15-year-old me, 'You think control is the most important thing in the world because you think if you have control, people can't hurt you. People are going to hurt you. And it's the times in your life where you stop holding things that you will find happiness.'"

Ballerini was recently caught by tourmate Kenny Chesney catching up on some sleep during a flight after a show in Little Rock on Kenny's private plane over the weekend. Chesney posted a photo of Ballerini sleeping in his seat sitting up, he and some of his band members were behind, and they snapped a picture.

He captioned the image on Instagram, "Another late night flight home on the #IGOBACKTOUR. Sorry, Kelsea! We love ya. And Little Rock, Arkansas, we love you too. Last night was so much fun."

Kelsea posted the post to her Insta stories, writing, "Tell me you're the little sister on the tour without telling me...hahaha."

See that post here.