Kelly Clarkson opens up about how public scrutiny of her appearance has affected her

It's been 16 years since Kelly Clarkson won American Idol. Despite the success that came with the title, she faced tremendous backlash for her appearance.

Clarkson has always been brutally honest about her emotions and doesn't shy away from baring her soul in her songs. She is also very vocal about her body image.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Clarkson explained that her song Whole Lotta Woman is challenging the way women's appearances "get picked over by people in the industry."

She said her appearance had been a hot topic for more than 15 years, regardless of whether she was thin or not. She never wanted the attention to be on her appearance in the first place.

If Clarkson had her way, she'd want people to talk about her music instead. She enjoyed working on Whole Lotta Woman for that very reason.

"I am a whole lot of woman, and it's ok. I came with a brain, and I came with drive and passion and sensuality, and these things that are awesome."

Kelly Clarkson, Rolling Stone, October 26, 2017.

Clarkson believes in not caring what other people think. When she gains weight, people are quick to assume that something is wrong, either health-wise or emotionally.

In an interview with Redbook, she joked that it "represents happiness" in her world. Clarkson added that you could not live your life based on the opinions of others.

If you do, you'd be "in a constant state of panic trying to please everyone." Her life is too full and her schedule too packed to be dealing with that as well.

Even though Photoshop and image editing plays a significant role in the entertainment industry, Clarkson wants girls and women to know that "Photoshop isn't reality."

Dealing with haters and body shamers is always tricky. Clarkson told Heat Magazine that it's a free world and people can say what they want.

And she can choose not to care about their harsh words. The interview followed after reporter Katie Hopkins asked Clarkson if she had 'eaten her backing singers.'

Clarkson is married to talent manager Brandon Blackstock, and the pair will be celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary in October.

They have two children together, a four-year-old girl and two-year-old son. Blackstock has two children from a previous marriage and the family of six lives in Tennessee.