Camila Cabello Recalls Taking It ‘Personally’ When People Didn’t Like Her: ‘I’m Way More at Peace with It Today’

With over 12 years of industry experience under her belt, Camila Cabello no longer needs the approval of others to know her worth.

In a cover story interview with Billboard published Wednesday, May 29, Cabello opened up about her feelings as the release of her newest album C,XOXO approaches — and revealed why she doesn’t have any expectations.

“Many things can happen, and they are out of my control,” Cabello, 27, told the outlet.

This approach took years to learn — and the “Bam Bam” singer explained that it used to get to her when someone didn’t like her or her music.

“[When I was starting out], I wish I knew that not everybody is going to like me, and it has nothing to do with me,” she said. “That affected me a lot in the beginning. When you’re that young all you want is acceptance and love, and you can’t understand when people don’t like you.”

Cabello continued, “You take it so personally, and it makes you feel like you’re doing something wrong.”

With time, she learned that “people’s reactions have nothing to do with you” — and it’s not something she had to be “affected by.”

“I’m way more at peace with it today,” she said.

Elsewhere in the interview, the “Never Be the Same” singer opened up about living her Sex and the City life, but Miami” which she channeled for her forthcoming album.

“To me, it’s about going out more, going to more parties and just being a bit more fearless and rebellious,” Cabello said. “Before, I would go out and not care about what I looked like. If I felt kind of ugly, it was whatever — but now, I always want to feel pretty for myself.”

“It’s about really enjoying life, and I always think to myself, that’s what sensuality is all about,” she continued. “It’s a sensory thing: enjoying the food you eat, enjoying putting on a few outfits in the mirror, enjoying the senses of being alive. It’s about taking in that baddie energy.”

Cabello’s new album, C,XOXO, is set for release on June 28 and will include features by Drake, Lil Nas X, City Girls and more.

C, XOXO is Cabello’s fourth studio album, following 2018’s Camila, 2019’s Romance and 2022’s Familia. The first single “I Luv It,” featuring Playboi Carti, dropped on March 27 and marked a new sound and era for the “Señorita” songstress. 

She performed the new song for the first time at Coachella in April during Lana Del Rey‘s headlining set on the second weekend.