Madonna just posted a really revealing selfie. No, she isn't nude in the image she shared with followers, but she's showing off a part of her body that people usually keep private. It's a scar on her hip from a major surgery that she recently underwent.
It seems like by posting the pic, which Mads shared to her Instagram stories on Sunday, the singer is hoping to flip the script on the idea that scars are something that should be concealed. She wrote, "#recovery," "#cupping," and "beautiful scar," in red font.
Madonna's Instagram is already a pretty interesting place because she often posts really revealing or borderline strange pictures. I mean, the life of Madonna is really something. But this image really has her fans talking and applauding her bravery.
In the image that Madonna shared to her stories on Sunday, the singer is rocking pink hair and a black sports bra with matching underwear. She is posing in front of the mirror and looks stunning, as always. But the image also shows a large scar across her hip from her recent surgery. Her legs are also covered in bruises from cupping.
It wasn't the first time we've seen Madonna's hip scar. She also showed it to followers in a post just last month. In the images, the singer is seen lifting up her black silk dress to reveal it. Somehow, Madonna can even make a scar from major surgery look good.
Getting hip surgery was a tough and painful experience for the superstar, though. It definitely wasn't a choice she made easily. But after being in terrible pain and struggling through performances, she knew that she couldn't continue on without a treatment plan.
Madonna actually had to cancel the last bit of her tour last December because she was in so much pain. It's not something the singer has ever done before, so it was definitely tough. But she didn't have a choice. "As I climbed the ladder to sing 'Batuka' on Saturday night in Miami I was in tears from the pain of my injuries, Which has been indescribable for the past few days," she wrote on Instagram at the time. "With every song I sang, I said a prayer that I would make it to the next and get thru the show. My prayers were answered, And I made it."
It was clearly an incredibly hard choice for her to make. She has previously canceled a few dates, then resumed the tour. But ultimately, it wasn't in the cards. Her doctors were also advising her to slow down.
As strong-willed as she may be, even Madonna had to listen to the doctors. "I consider myself a warrior I never quit, I never give in, I never give up!!" she said. “However this time I have to listen to my body And accept that my pain is a warning I want to say how deeply sorry I am to all my fans. For having to cancel my last show."
"I spent the last two days with doctors Scans, ultra sounds, Xrays Poking and probing and more tears," she added in her Instagram caption. "They have made it very clear to me that if l am to continue my tour — I must rest for as long as possible so that I don’t inflict further and Irreversible damage to my body."
"I have never let an injury stop me from performing but this time i have to accept that there is no shame in being human and having to press the pause button,” Madonna wrote. “I thank you all for your understanding, love and support." It seems like it's a good thing she did press pause, too. Otherwise, she may have suffered damage that couldn't be repaired, she said.
It's a beautiful thing that Madonna isn't hiding her scar. While we totally think of her as being an unstoppable force, being able to acknowledge that sometimes even she has to slow down and change her plans is a reminder that we're all human. We all need to listen to our bodies. And sometimes, medical treatment is a complete necessity.
We really love that Mads is showing us her human side. After all, she may be a superstar, but she's still a person. She deserves to rest, to take care of herself, and to feel her best. But letting us catch a glimpse of that vulnerability is both brave and beautiful.
