Lifestyle Health Céline Dion Is the New Face of L'Oréal at 51 — and She's Shutting Down Body-Shamers The superstar singer's got an exciting new title: the face of L'Oréal Paris! She's also shutting down her body-shamers once and for all By Janine Rubenstein Janine Rubenstein Instagram Twitter Janine Rubenstein is Editor-at-Large at PEOPLE and host of PEOPLE Every Day podcast, a daily dose of breaking news, pop culture and heartwarming human interest stories. Formerly Senior Editor of music content, she's also covered crime, human interest and television news throughout her many years with the brand. Prior to PEOPLE she's written for Essence, The Cape Times newspaper and Los Angeles Magazine among others. On-screen Rubenstein can be found featured on shows like Good Morning America and Entertainment Tonight and she routinely hosts PEOPLE and Entertainment Weekly's star-studded Red Carpet Live specials. Follow the San Francisco native, Black Barbie collector and proud mom of two on Instagram and Twitter @janinerube People Editorial Guidelines Published on April 2, 2019 09:00 AM Share Tweet Pin Email Céline Dion is celebrating her 51st birthday with a title she never expected. “I’m in shock, actually. I never, never expected something like this,” she says of being tapped by L’Oréal Paris as the brand’s new global ambassador. Growing up, she says, “I never really felt confident beauty-wise.” The honor couldn’t have come at a better time in her life. These days, “I’ve never felt as beautiful, as strong, and I really think that the best is yet to come.” Opening up to PEOPLE in this week’s issue, Dion shares what all it has taken to make her feel this way, following the devastating loss of her husband of 21 years René Angélil in January 2016. The hardest part was comforting her sons René-Charles, 18, and 8-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy. “All the little things in life, and the big things, they have to make you stronger,” she says, “Otherwise, you don’t understand the meaning of life itself.” Sofia Sanchez & Mauro Mongiello for L’Oréal Paris For more on Celine Dion and how she’s rebuilding her life after tragedy, pick up this week’s issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday. As the star prepares to close out her long-running hit Las Vegas residency at Caesar’s Palace, she says it’s this newfound strength that has inspired her to follow new passions including totally revamping her style. Céline Dion Says It’s Never Too Late to Change Your Style: ‘It Makes You Feel Really Sexy’ “I love fashion,” says Dion who credits her stylists, including dancer and very close pal Pepe Muñoz, with helping her choose bold looks that are “reflecting how I feel inside.” Philippe Blet/REX/Shutterstock On the outside, she admits she may look a little slimmer, but that is part of another positive change she’s made. “Dancing has been in my DNA all of my life,” says Dion who once dreamed of becoming a ballerina and has recently taken up ballet dance with the help of Muñoz. “It’s a dream. And so hard!” Céline Dion Slams the Criticism Over Her Slimmer Look: ‘Leave Me Alone’ Though online critics have tried to call attention to her appearance, she’s not paying them any attention: “I do this four times a week,” Dion says of ballet practice. “People say, ‘She’s a lot thinner’ but I’m working hard. I like to move and [weight loss] comes with it.” Denise Truscello for L’Oréal Paris Besides, Dion says feeling good is where beauty really comes from. “This is about confidence,” she says of what teaming up with the brand means to her. Gearing up to help promote L’Oréal’s Hair Excellence color line as well as various cosmetic products, Dion says “beauty is within, but when you can reflect it in the mirror, you’re ready to hit the world.”