25th of August 2002
For months, stories of Britney Spears' wild antics have been swirling. She's boozing it up in nightclubs. She's smoking. She's heartbroken over Justin. She's giving the middle finger to photographers. She's distressed over her parents' divorce. And the ultimate: She's taking a six-month break because she's having a breakdown!
Now, the 20-year-old pop princess sits down with People to say exactly how she's feeling. In her purse, notes the piece: Juicy Fruit gum, Pinkie's mints and St. John's wort, the herbal supplement generally taken for depression.
Here are some of the highlights from the new issue's cover story:
* ''I'm taking a break, so people are writing that I'm having a meltdown. I don't get it.''
* ''I need this break to rejuvenate and to just play.''
* ''I never wanted to hide who I was, but until about a year ago, I was trying to fit an image and trying to be someone I wasn't.''
* ''If I have a drink or I'm with someone, I'm human. I'm no different than anyone else my age.''
* ''Selling 5 million records is still good. I don't want to get jaded thinking I have to sell 10 million every time. It's not about that.''
* ''First Justin (Timberlake) broke up with me, and then I broke up with him. The two of us were always on the same page.'' They ''recently tried to get back together,'' but ''right now in my life, it's not right.''
* ''(The breakup) was horrible. Very upsetting, and it took a lot out of me. He was my first real love, and I doubt I'll ever be able to love anyone like that again.''
* The breakup of her parents' 30-year marriage has been easier to deal with. ''It's the best thing that's ever happened to my family. My mom and dad, bottom line, do not get along. When I was a baby, they argued. I wanted this to happen 10 years ago.''
* She's happy to have a break. ''Everything's usually laid out for me. But I don't know what I'm going to do next. This may sound weird, but I'm kind of the happiest I've been in a really long freakin' time.''
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