Dua Lipa weight-shamed as a hopeful young model: ‘I felt great the way I was’

Dua Lipa hasn’t always been “Levitating” — early in her career, she was told to lose weight.

Prior to the “Break My Heart” singer’s chart-topping success, Lipa landed a modeling gig where she was instructed to shed some pounds by an unnamed male figure in the industry — and ultimately left the job.

“I felt great the way I was; I had no reason to want to change,” the pop sensation told Vogue France.

The September 2023 cover girl confessed to struggling with her self-worth at the time.

“Of course, I had insecurities. Times when I questioned my appearance,” she said. “I know how destabilizing it can be to feel not good enough.”

Lipa attempted to launch her modeling career at 16, juggling jobs in restaurants and nightclubs to get by.

“[I] lived everything as a crazy experience,” she said. “I made great friends. Plus, I danced, and I really love dancing.”

At 28, the hitmaker is still dancing the night away — but this time, on a stage in front of thousands.

“I’ve always loved performing. Dancing, singing, making up choreography in the playground,” she said. “When I was little, I used to dream: ‘It would be incredible to perform on a real stage…’”

Today, the Dua that will confess to demanding her parents’ full attention in her childhood living room is wholly content with not being the focal point at social gatherings.

“When I invite people around for dinner, I’m very happy not being the center of attention, since being the center of attention has become my job,” she said.

The seemingly humble songstress doesn’t listen to her own music off the clock, either.

“When I’m working on an album, it’s on repeat, but as soon as it releases, I never listen to it again — unless it comes on randomly on the radio or in the club,” said the London-born singer, who noted she prefers to maintain two different personas — one for the public, and one for her “inner circle.”

The “doubleness,” she explained, allows her “to maintain a normal life” — in business meetings, she turns on the “Dua Lipa Music Career” mode, but with her friends, she switches into “Private Dua” mode.

“There’s a lot of duality in me,” she said. “But it’s within this duality that I find peace.”