Celine Dion recently covered for Vogue France, putting on a white miniskirt with an unbuttoned oversized shirt and using her hand to cover her chest.
In the post caption on Instagram, Dion shared her body positivity amid her ongoing battle with Stiff Person Syndrome. “I’m honored to be doing a photo shoot for Vogue France. I’m very proud that, at 55, I’ve been asked to reveal my beauty. But what is beauty? Beauty is you, it’s me, it’s what’s inside, it’s our dreams, it’s today. Today, I’m a woman who is feeling strong and positive about the future. One day at a time.“
The musical icon shared her story and battle with the life-altering ailment of stiff person syndrome and her plans for the future in the May 2024 issue of Vogue France as she prepares for the premier of her documentary ‘I Am: Celine Dion’ on Amazon Prime Video, to be released on June 25.
Celine Dion talked about how she blamed herself when she was diagnosed and her search for a “why.” “Life doesn’t give you answers. You simply have to live it! I have this disease for some unknown reason,” she said.
“I have two choices. Either I train like an athlete and I work super hard or I disconnect and it’s over, I stay at home, I listen to my songs, I stand in front of my mirror and I sing to myself. I chose to work with all my body and all my soul, from head to toe with a medical team. I want to be my best self. My goal is to see the Eiffel Tower again!”
She explained how her family, children and fans motivated her to find treatment for her ailment: “People who suffer from (stiff person syndrome) may not have the chance or the means to have good doctors or good treatments. I have these means, I have this gift. Plus, I have this strength in me. I know nothing is going to stop me.”
On Her Present Mindset:
“My dream is to live in the present. One day at a time. I am truly very lucky. And I am honored to be doing a photo shoot for Vogue France because although I had better health and beauty at 30, I didn’t get asked to do one then. I am very proud that at 55, I am being asked to reveal my beauty. But what is beauty? Beauty is you, it’s me, it’s what’s on the inside, it’s our dreams, it’s today. Beauty is what surrounds us, it is there. There are people that see it, and there are people that observe it. Today, I am a woman, who feels strong and positive about the future. One day at a time.”
When asked if she’ll tour again:
“I can’t answer that… Because for four years I’ve been saying to myself that I’m not going back, that I’m ready, that I’m not ready… As things stand, I can’t stand here and say to you: “Yes, in four months.” I don’t know… My body will tell me. On the other hand, I don’t just want to wait. It’s morally hard to live from day to day. It’s hard, I’m working very hard and tomorrow will be even harder. Tomorrow is another day. But there’s one thing that will never stop, and that’s the will. It’s the passion. It’s the dream. It’s the determination.”
During the 2024 Grammy Awards, Celine Dion made a surprise appearance presenting the Album of the Year award to Taylor Swift (Midnights); “Thank you all,” she said to the applauding crowd, showing no signs of weakness. “I love you right back. When I say that I’m happy to be here, I really mean it from my heart.”
Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is defined as “a rare, progressive neurological disorder” that can cause muscle spasms. The condition can be so debilitating that some patients develop a hunched posture, eventually preventing them from walking or moving independently at all. While treatment can manage the symptoms, there is currently no known cure.
In March, Dion spoke out on social media for International Stiff Person Syndrome Awareness Day. “Today the world recognizes International SPS Awareness Day. As many of you know, in the fall of 2022, I was diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS). Trying to overcome this autoimmune disorder has been one of the hardest experiences of my life, but I remain determined to one day get back onto the stage and to live as normal of a life as possible. I am deeply grateful for the love and support from my kids, family, team and all of you!”
