Janet Jackson's body acceptance

Feb 17, 2008, 7:35 GMT

02/10/2008 - Janet Jackson - Entertainment Weekly\'s Toast to Antonio "LA" Reid at STK in Hollywood on February 10, 2008 - STK - West Hollywood, CA, USA © Inez Lewis / PR Photos

Janet Jackson is finally happy with her body.

The 41-year-old singer feels her fluctuating weight has been constantly scrutinised but she has learnt not to worry about her appearance anymore.

Janet said: "I like myself a lot more than I used to. I had a very difficult time in my 20s especially. It was hard for me to look in the mirror and find something that I liked about myself.

"There is a moment when you get older when your metabolism slows down and you don't feel like working out any more, so you don't keep yourself fit anymore, but that's your decision. Why should you be judged for it?"

Newly-confident Janet attributes her change in attitude to her music producer boyfriend Jermaine Dupri, who she has been dating since 2002.

She said: "He really appreciates me. He's good to me. He loves me as I am, whether I'm this size or 60lbs heavier.

"He cares about me and not about what I do or can do for anyone. I've never felt that before."

Janet has even learnt to embrace her wide smile, which she once hated.

She added: "I never really liked my smile before because it was sort of big and broad, but now I feel a warmth there that I never saw before."

(C) BANG Media International