Self Esteem’s Glastonbury Triumph: Unmasking Success to Find Your Voice
Rebecca Lucy Taylor, aka Self Esteem, electrified Glastonbury’s Park Stage on 27th June, 2025, with a theatrical set that captivated the crowd. Opening with I Do and I Don’t Care from her latest album A Complicated Woman, she and her dancers, first in Handmaid’s Tale-esque robes, later in rugby kits, channelled raw defiance and joy, closing with a euphoric conga line offstage. Her “stirring, serious-minded yet upbeat” performance, as critics raved, mirrored the struggle of projecting success while battling inner turmoil, a reality many high achievers know too well, where they appear flawless but feel fragile inside.
The Weight of the Perfect Mask
Taylor’s journey reflects that of many professionals who excel under pressure, delivering projects, balancing family, radiating competence, yet privately grapple with exhaustion or self-doubt. In a 2021 Guardian interview, she described shedding the “sweet, heterosexual lady” role from her Slow Club days to embrace her true self. This shift, fuelled by therapy and honesty, parallels the fear of admitting “I’m struggling” when it feels like a risk to your hard-earned reputation.
Why We Hide
Society equates vulnerability with weakness, especially for those in demanding roles. Fear of judgment, Will colleagues see me as less capable? Will loved ones feel burdened? This keeps us silent. Taylor’s 2020 X post about therapy rewiring her “ridiculous inner wiring” underscores the courage needed to face these fears. We hide to preserve our image, but silence isolates, deepening the divide between our public and private selves.
The Cost of Silence
Maintaining the facade is draining. Taylor’s I Do This All the Time, sung to a roaring Glastonbury crowd, urges, “Prioritise pleasure,” rejecting society’s relentless benchmarks. For many, this performance of perfection leads to burnout or a quiet loss of self, often surfacing in therapy as a longing for authenticity.
Stepping Into Truth
Therapy helps us drop the mask. Inspired by Taylor’s Glastonbury boldness, try:
Name the Struggle: Privately admit, “I’m overwhelmed,” to reclaim your truth.
Seek Safe Spaces: Share a fragment of your reality with a friend or therapist, as Taylor did by embracing her bisexuality and musical voice.
Redefine Strength: Vulnerability is power. Prioritising your needs, like Taylor’s anthems, is radical self-respect.
Embracing Authenticity
Taylor’s Glastonbury set, with fans chanting I’m Fine, was a collective reclaiming of power. You don’t need to perform flawlessly to be worthy. Like Taylor, who found freedom in unapologetic self-expression, admitting you’re human is the first step to living authentically.
If you’re ready to explore your truth in a safe space, please complete the form below.