Olivia Dean reveals she used to eat her lunch in school toilets because people made her ‘feel embarrassed about who I was’ as she credits her friends for preventing her from ‘getting lost and confused within the industry’

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Olivia Dean has shared how she stays balanced and down-to-earth, even as her career rapidly gains success and experiences significant highs and lows.

The 27-year-old singer has had a fantastic year, winning four BRIT Awards last month and her first Grammy in February.

Her second album, ‘The Art Of Loving,’ has been at the top of the charts longer than any other album by a British female artist this decade, even beating out Adele’s ’30’.

Even with all her achievements, Olivia says she remains grounded, as highlighted by her recent cover feature on ELLE’s 2026 Women in Music Issue.

The actress, known for ‘The Man I Need’, says her female friends have been crucial in keeping her grounded and mentally healthy amidst the craziness of the entertainment industry. She admits it would be easy to lose her way in such a confusing world.

Let me tell you, after an event like the Grammys, the conversations afterward are intense. It’s wild, because my life swings between incredibly glamorous, over-the-top moments and then… well, just life. It can feel pretty extreme sometimes, jumping between those two worlds.

It’s easy to understand why people feel overwhelmed and disoriented in this line of work. It really takes a lot of resilience. I feel fortunate to have hobbies and interests that offer a break from all of that.

I appreciate that my friends care about me, but I find myself equally invested in their lives. I don’t believe my life is more valuable than anyone else’s; it simply holds unique importance to me.

She shared that they first connected at the renowned BRIT School, which has produced many famous artists like Adele and Amy Winehouse.

Olivia remembered her mother encouraging her to apply to the school so she could pursue her love of music. It was the first place she truly felt accepted, which was a welcome change after a tough experience at her old school.

The singer admitted she didn’t want to call it bullying, but she felt ashamed and self-conscious growing up, like she was overbearing. She remembered hiding in the bathroom to eat lunch by herself.

Attending the BRIT school was a turning point in her life, and it’s where she met her closest friends, one of whom she still lives with today.

Olivia said they first met on the first day of BRIT, and she immediately bonded with the other person by confessing, ‘I’ve been eating lunch in the bathroom. Want to be friends?’

She continued describing her time at the arts school, explaining that it helped her overcome her self-consciousness and embrace her true self.

It felt really good to be with people who appreciated music and weren’t afraid to express their enthusiasm.

At my old school, I often felt like I was overwhelming people. But that wasn’t true – I wasn’t giving enough. I hadn’t even begun to reach my full potential, and I felt like they were reacting before I could really show what I was capable of.

Honestly, Olivia just gets it. She really knows herself and her strengths, and that’s why ‘The Art of Loving’ is so incredible. It’s not just a book, it’s… real. It feels so emotionally honest and completely authentic, and I think that comes from her finally being truly confident in who she is.

This experience has also shaped her positive views on love and relationships, which are reflected in her music. For example, she describes her song “Man I Need” as a way to encourage men to strive to be their best selves for the women in their lives.

That’s how I feel right now. I’ve been going to therapy for a while, and it’s helped me understand myself better. I’ve realized I don’t want to waste time dwelling on negative feelings about love or men – it just isn’t helpful for me.

I definitely feel things deeply, and sometimes get upset or hurt. But I make an effort to step back, understand things from different angles, and be empathetic. Studying the work of bell hooks has really helped me develop that mindset.

Even though Olivia has already achieved a lot and is having an incredibly successful career, she doesn’t measure her success by awards or how quickly her tour tickets sold.

For her, success wasn’t about fame or money, but about reaching as many people as possible through her events and the spaces she used. It was about making a connection with a large audience.

That’s why she’s one of the few celebrities speaking out about high ticket prices. She wants Ticketmaster to give refunds to fans who were overcharged and limit how much tickets cost, and she hopes other artists will do the same.

She firmly stated she wouldn’t perform on stage while others profited from her work without contributing, specifically mentioning someone making $500 to $600 at her expense.

I believe everyone should be able to attend the show without worrying about the cost. You shouldn’t need to be wealthy to enjoy the music you love, plain and simple.

She spoke out forcefully about the issue following criticism of Harry Styles, who was accused of being greedy and insensitive due to the expensive tickets for his recent tour.

Tickets for the London portion of the event vary in price. Seats range from £44 to £466, while standing-room tickets cost between £144 and £279. For those wanting a VIP experience, packages are available from £469 to £725.

People waiting online to buy tickets for Harry’s concert at Madison Square Garden in New York were informed that prices would range from $50 to $1,182.40, with all fees included.

In New York, it’s also thought the most expensive VIP package is currently priced at $1,667.

In contrast, tickets for his 2022 shows at Madison Square Garden cost between $39.50 and $199.50. His sold-out concerts at Wembley Stadium in London that same year were even more affordable, starting at just £45 and reaching a maximum of £99.

Harry’s fans are angry about the high costs, accusing him of pricing out many of his younger followers and making his music unaffordable for them.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve seen this happen time and time again with major events! When Oasis announced their 2025 reunion tour, there was a lot of upset about the ticket prices – some were going for as much as £350, and fans definitely voiced their frustration. It’s a familiar story – high demand often means higher prices, but it doesn’t always sit well with those who just want to enjoy the show.

When tickets finally went on sale, fans were shocked to find that prices had more than doubled, jumping from £148 to over £350. This meant many people couldn’t afford to get a seat at the popular concerts.

The situation caused so much public concern that a UK regulatory body launched an investigation into how ticket prices were being changed.

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2026-04-02 19:34