Keke Palmer is embracing her post-pregnancy body after being shamed by her boyfriend. The entertainer recently sat down with The Cut to discuss her career and life as a mom.

“I’ll be honest, I think before I even had the baby, I was really actually quite self-conscious,” Keke shared with the publication. “After having my baby, I’ve gotten so much more powerful,” Palmer shared.

“We’re going to lean into this new body, and I think that is the whole aura of what’s happening with me in this big boss era as I come into my 30s, and I have my baby boy, and I’m just continuing to spread my wings as a young woman.”

Keke Palmer was showing off her confidence in new photos a few days ago when her boyfriend and son’s father, Darius Jackson, advised her to change her attire. “You a mom,” Darius wrote online after seeing what turned out to be a controversial post. Dozens came to Keke’s defense before the entertainer declared herself to be a mom regardless of her fashion choices.

“There is such a thing as privacy,” Keke told The Cut. “I’m not showing y’all my a*s at night. I’m a human being,” the actress declared. “I have things that make me just a normal person. I’m flawed. I definitely try to put my best foot forward.”

Keke went on to say, “I don’t live to be a celebrity. I live to do what I love, to share love, to give something positive to the world. Being under a magnifying glass for all of my life, it was kind of a surrender to realizing no matter what I do, it’s never going to be enough, so that’s okay. Let me at least be me.”

Being herself has led Palmer to multiple ventures in entertainment. In addition to acting, Keke also has a podcast and a production company called KeyTV.

“I came from a very traditional space in entertainment, and it was very hard for me to create my own narrative and help get the work that I ended up getting as I’ve continued to evolve as a creator,” Keke said of her beginnings. “Because of the internet, I was able to produce and create my own content and make a financial career that invests back into itself. It helps to keep the creativity going, especially when you think about brands and sponsorships,” the actress explained.

“Not a lot of Black creatives get those same opportunities,” Keke admitted. “KeyTV is an opportunity; it’s a way to bridge the gap and feed more eyes back to the work of BIPOC creators, and using my brand as a launchpad. It is inspired a lot by AwesomenessTV.”

After watching her grow up on the big screen, some wonder what is next for Keke Palmer. “I’m going to continue to be killing these fashions, honey,” the actress told The Cut.

“Definitely more hosting, and acting, and all that stuff,” Palmer continued. “A lot more stuff behind the scenes too,” she added. “I’m in a unique vantage point to be able to communicate, and talk, and relate, but also have wisdom that is granted only through the experience that I’ve had.”

Photo: The Cut