CAMILA CABELLO has revealed how lockdown helped her turn her life around after nine years of non-stop work left her “burnt out and broken”.
The US pop superstar, best known for her hits Havana and Senorita, also paid tribute to her boyfriend Shawn Mendes, saying she has been able to lean on the singer in her darkest times.
In her most candid interview ever, Camila told us: “Before lockdown I was burnt out. I was living with a really high amount of anxiety.
“It was too much and it was not sustainable. I felt like I was running with a broken leg but I wasn’t really listening to how I felt.
“I kept telling myself everything was good, ‘I should feel fine, I should feel OK’.
“What I needed to do was say, ‘How do I actually feel?’ and letting that be OK. I needed to give myself permission to ask for help — because I needed help. I needed therapy.
“The pandemic gave me that pause to say, ‘Let’s not carry on running on this broken leg, let’s fix it’.
“In the past there were plenty of times when I’ve been working — not home or having any time for relationships, not having time to be healthy and happy — just working non-stop and not feeling good but doing it anyway.
“That’s something I would never do now. If I felt like that again, I’d just say, ‘Sorry, guys’.
Intense pace
“I know now I have to take care for myself. No one is going to know when I’ve reached a limit other than me, so I have to take care of myself in that way.”
The three-time Grammy nominee shot to fame in girl group Fifth Harmony on the US X Factor in 2012 before going solo in 2016.
The move paid off in 2017 when her debut single Havana reached No1 in 23 countries.
Her 2018 album Camila also topped the US charts.
And as her star continued to rise she supported Taylor Swift — who she now counts among her friends — on Taylor’s 2018 tour.
But Camila says the success came at a high price, revealing: “Anxiety is something I’ve struggled with since I was a teenager and so this has actually been a really positive time for me.
“I’ve learned a lot about balance, about saying no to things because it’s better for me to have that hour of therapy and see my friends.
"It’s about not allowing myself to get to the point where I’m burnt out.
“In the past year I’ve got a new therapist, I’ve made a lot of progress and I feel so much better.
“I’ve been working at such an intense pace since I was 15, so I never got a chance to go, ‘Hey, what does living without this pressure feel like?’ I felt like I didn’t know until this break.
“I have definitely seen the benefits in my relationships too. In fact, that’s probably one of the most important things — having that stability and having time to deepen intimate relationships.”
Camila, who released latest single Don’t Go Yet last month, has been dating Shawn since 2019 when they released sexy duet Senorita.
Last month the rumour mill went into overdrive when Camila appeared on TikTok with new jewellery on her ring finger. But she insists a wedding is not on the cards . . . yet.
She added: “Shawn has been so supportive. He is someone I feel I can really trust.”
The feeling is clearly mutual, with Shawn saying of Camila in an interview last December: “She’s so absolutely patient with me, especially when I’m stressed or anything is getting to me.
“She’ll text me. And if I ever am being bitey with her, she’d be like, ‘It’s OK, I love you no matter what’. That’s real strength and patience and love.”
Camila’s third album is due later this year and she plays Cinderella in a Prime Video remake of the Disney classic, with a 2021 “girl boss” twist on the traditional heroine.
She said: “This Cinderella isn’t waiting for anyone to save her. She’s ambitious, empowered and there are no evil people in there, just people struggling with their own trauma and history.
“A lot of the older fairytales are written by men so they give an outdated perspective on a story where a woman is a protagonist.
“This is a necessary 2021 version of a fairytale.”
Most Wanted
THE WANTED are back after a seven-year hiatus, we can exclusively reveal.
All five of the lads – Max George, Tom Parker, Nathan Sykes, Siva Kaneswaran and Jay McGuiness – are reuniting next week, with a new single and filming a music video.
Having stayed on good terms while working on solo projects, the collective comeback is to support Tom, who has a terminal brain tumour.
A source said: “Tom’s ordeal meant everyone has wanted to rally round and celebrate what they achieved as a group and live in the moment.
“They loved their time in the band and feel now is the right time to get back together, especially as Tom’s future is uncertain.
“There will be new music and performances, plus they want to use this opportunity to raise money for cancer charities.
“They are planning to make an official announcement on Wednesday.
"Everyone is really excited to be back together and they can’t wait to recreate the magic of before.”
Tom has been busy filming a documentary, for Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer appeal, in which he organises a major fundraising concert at the Royal Albert Hall.
The father of two, who revealed earlier this year his tumour had been “significantly reduced” and that he was continuing treatment, is also helping the National Brain Appeal.
After their first hit All Time Low, this could be an all-time high.
Rita's ring pic has us guessing
RITA Ora has sparked an engagement riddle after posting a snap on Instagram of her hand with the ring finger partially obscured.
The pic was later deleted – but not before we spotted it.
It has sparked speculation that Rita’s film director boyfriend Taika Waititi has popped the question.
The couple went public with their relationship in April and in May sources revealed she had moved into the Kiwi’s Sydney home.
Soon afterwards, they made headlines with that three-way kiss with actress Tessa Thompson, pictured on a balcony after a wild night out.
Last night a spokeswoman for Rita would not confirm or deny the rumours.
We’ll start hat shopping, just in case.
Wedding bells
CONGRATS to Mark Ronson and Grace Gummer on tying the knot.
The DJ wrote this gushing tribute to the actress – the daughter of Hollywood icon Meryl Streep – on Instagram: “You made 45 hands down the greatest year of my life.
"It took me 45 years to become the man worthy of your love. I hope I spend every one of these birthdays by your side til my last day. And beyond.”
Festival goes down a storm with Amber
TONGUES were wagging at Leeds Festival last weekend after our spy spotted Love Islander Amber Gill watching Stormzy’s headline set side-of-stage.
The rapper took off his top at one point, revealing his hunky physique.
A source said: “Amber looked amazing and stood out backstage with all the roadies. All eyes were on her.
“She seemed to be really enjoying herself and knew all the words to his songs.”
Stormzy is single after splitting from long-term girlfriend Maya Jama in 2019 and was seen with a mystery woman at the GQ Awards last week.
His spokeswoman said: “Amber’s access had absolutely nothing to do with him.”
Amber, who found fame on 2019’s Love Island, later posted a snap on Instagram of her posing next to a black vehicle that looked strikingly similar to one of Stormzy’s monster motors, along with the caption: “Fresh face. Best weekend.”
Ellie’s release
ELLIE GOULDING is moving into movies and says she finds acting therapeutic.
The singer and new mum, who gave birth to son Arthur earlier this year, said: “I’ve been acting with an amazing coach.
"It’s brought out such a positive and energetic side to me. I love that I can be other people. I really enjoy it.
"I’ve realised in motherhood it’s important to be around people who give you the utmost support. I’m very lucky to get that balance between work and motherhood.”
New run sorted by Dyer duo
DANI Dyer is to reprise her agony aunt role alongside dad Danny on hit Spotify podcast Sorted With The Dyers.
Launched last October, the show provides straight-talking advice to listeners’ dilemmas.
The new series could give Dani a chance to open up about ex Sammy Kimmence, with whom she has young son Santiago. They split after Sammy was jailed for fraud.
A source told us: “Dani has kept her feelings about Sammy quiet and has focused on being the best mum she can be to Santiago.
"But the podcast recording, alongside her dad, is a safe space and may prove a golden opportunity for her to say her piece.”
We can’t wait to hear it.
Love at first sight
JAMES Corden has told how he won the love of his telly producer wife Julia Carey the first night they met.
He said: “Jules and I never went on dates. The night we met, we talked about how we were bored of going out all the time . . . we were going out too much, drinking too much, having too good of a time.
"We were exhausted. We sat in the corner of a room at this party and as a joke planned the rest of our lives together.” Simple.
Ore's scare
ORE Oduba was dragged from a river after he was unresponsive for 30 seconds on Celeb SAS.
The 2016 Strictly winner told us he felt himself “falling unconscious”, adding: “They pulled me out and got me in the Jeep.
"The guys told me I was unresponsive for about 30 seconds.” Scary stuff.
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