SZA is the kind of artist who makes you feel like you're reading her private diary. From the messy vulnerability of Ctrl to the polished, revenge-heavy anthems of SOS, she’s built a career on being painfully honest. But for the last few years, the internet hasn’t just been talking about her pen game. They’ve been obsessed with her body. Specifically, the "SZA before BBL" era.
It’s a weird thing, right? Watching a human being transform in real-time under a microscope.
Honestly, looking back at SZA’s early days—around 2011 to 2014—it’s like looking at a different person, but also the same girl who just wanted to be heard. Back then, she was the "indie darling" of Top Dawg Entertainment. She wore oversized jerseys, baggy cargo pants, and had this ethereal, unpolished energy. She was beautiful then. She’s beautiful now. But the "how" and the "why" of her physical change have become a massive talking point in pop culture.
The Reality of SZA Before the BBL Era
Before the surgical rumors started swirling around 2022, Solána Rowe (that’s her real name) was already open about her weight journey. She wasn’t always the "slim-thick" icon we see on Instagram today. In fact, SZA has candidly shared that she used to weigh around 200 pounds.
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She wore her dad's oversized clothes to hide her body. She dealt with cystic acne that made her feel like her "base" was broken.
When Ctrl dropped in 2017, we saw a version of SZA that was lean, athletic, and arguably "natural" in the traditional sense. She had a smaller frame, a more rectangular silhouette, and a face that was still softening into adulthood. There was no "shelf" or dramatic hip-to-waist ratio. She looked like the girl next door who happened to have the voice of a generation.
Why the Shift Happened
People often assume celebrities get work done because of "industry pressure." SZA, in her typical "I do what I want" fashion, shut that down pretty quickly.
She told Elle magazine that she didn’t succumb to what the labels wanted. She succumbed to her own eyes in the mirror. She basically said, "I wanted more ass, so I bought it."
That level of transparency is rare. Usually, we get the "I just drink a lot of water and do squats" line. SZA didn't give us that. She told us the truth, even if it meant admitting she was chasing a specific aesthetic that she, personally, found attractive.
Breaking Down the Plastic Surgery Timeline
It wasn't just a Brazilian Butt Lift. If you look at side-by-side photos from the 2017 Grammys versus her more recent appearances in 2024 and 2025, there are a few other things people notice.
- The Jawline and Chin: Early SZA had a much rounder face. Recently, her chin appears more "V-shaped" and her jawline is incredibly sharp. Some experts (and Twitter detectives) suggest a chin implant or sliding genioplasty, though SZA herself hasn't confirmed facial surgery.
- The Nose: Her bridge looks slimmer, and the tip looks more refined compared to the Z EP era.
- The Body: This is the big one. The BBL. In early 2022, fans noticed she was suddenly much curvier. She even showed up to the Grammys on crutches that year, which she claimed was from a fall, but many suspected was part of the grueling recovery process for body contouring.
The Lyrics That Confirmed Everything
If you missed the interviews, you couldn't miss the music. On the opening track of SOS, SZA literally raps: "So classic, that ass so fat, it look natural, it's not."
She followed that up on "Conceited" with: "I just got my body done, ain't got no guilt about it."
It was a power move. By putting it in the lyrics, she took the "gotcha" moment away from the tabloids. She owned the narrative before they could weaponize it.
The Complicated Side of the "Dream Body"
Here’s where it gets human. In late 2024 and early 2025, SZA started singing a slightly different tune. While she still loves the way she looks, she’s been vocal about the downsides of the procedure.
In a raw interview with British Vogue, she called the decision to get a BBL "stupid" in some ways. Not because of the aesthetic, but because of the physical toll.
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"I'm so mad I did that shit. I gained all this weight from being immobile while recovering and trying to preserve the fat. It was just so stupid."
This is the part the Instagram influencers don't tell you. To get a BBL, you often have to gain weight so the surgeon has fat to transfer. Then, you can’t sit on your butt for weeks. You’re swollen. You’re in pain. For an artist who lives to be on stage, that "immobility" felt like a trap.
She realized, in hindsight, that the surgery didn't solve the internal stuff. She admitted she still had mental health hurdles to jump over that a surgeon’s scalpel couldn't touch. It’s a classic case of: New body, same brain.
Lessons from SZA’s Transformation
So, what does the "SZA before BBL" conversation actually tell us?
It tells us that even the most successful, "perfect" women in the world struggle with their reflection. It also reminds us that "natural" isn't the only way to be "authentic." SZA is still the same songwriter. She still captures the feeling of being "Normal Girl" even if she no longer looks like the girl we met in 2014.
If you’re looking at her transformation and feeling a certain way, here are some real-world takeaways:
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- Surgery isn't a shortcut to self-love. SZA's regret about the recovery process shows that the "perfect" body comes with a high physical and mental price tag.
- Transparency matters. We live in an era of "filtered reality." SZA’s honesty is a breath of fresh air compared to stars who pretend their bodies changed overnight because of "yoga."
- Focus on the "Why." SZA did it for herself, not the industry. If you’re considering any change—cosmetic or otherwise—make sure the motivation starts with you and not a trend.
- Mental health first. As SZA said, she had "other shit" she needed to work on. Physical changes are temporary; the way you talk to yourself is permanent.
Whether you prefer the Ctrl era aesthetic or the SOS goddess look, it’s clear that SZA is going to keep evolving. She’s already hinted that she’ll "do a whole bunch more shit" to her body before she's done because, to her, the body is just a temporary vessel.
If you're interested in how celebrities are navigating the post-BBL world, you might want to look into the "skinny BBL" trend or how stars like Blac Chyna are actually reversing their procedures to get back to a more natural state. The pendulum is always swinging.
Next Steps:
- Audit your social media feed: If looking at "after" photos makes you feel "less than," it's time to hit unfollow.
- Research the recovery: Before considering any "tweak," read the stories of recovery, not just the results.
- Focus on functional fitness: Prioritize how your body feels and moves over how it looks in a mirror.