While his buddy LeBron currently commands the world stage after his recent 2016 championship win, Dwyane Wade is getting the spotlight for another reason—he’s getting naked.
But before you go Googling for the Gabby-Dwyane sex tape, allow us to clear the air. The NBA All-Star will be the new cover of the ESPN The Magazine’s Body Issue, which hits stands July 6th.
Stepped out of my comfort zone for the #BodyIssue on stands July 6th. Sharing #myNAKEDtruth https://t.co/jFBlVEBcW3 pic.twitter.com/2Qn1ykwNhL
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) June 21, 2016
While Wade seems poised and confident in the images circulating online now, Wade admits it took him awhile to get to that point. He has mentioned in previous interviews that he always felt uncomfortable with his body.
He was quoted telling ABC News, “A lot of people say, ‘You’re a professional athlete, how could you not embrace your body?’ But it was from a lot of insecurities in my life growing up…”
Wade explained that as a child he never wanted to participate in swim class or other activities in which he had to take his shirt off because of his belly button outie. Those body insecurities even lasted into adulthood and even around his wife.
“When I got married to my wife … I would never walk around on vacation with my shirt off. I would always have something on, something covered and she was like, ‘What are you doing, you weirdo?'” he said. “It took me a few years, even by myself in the house walking around naked,” he said in the ABC News interview.
Wade said marriage to his wife Gabrielle Union played an instrumental part in helping him find his body confidence. He is quoted saying that as a married couple, the twosome are able to be vulnerable with one another and expose their insecurities with one another without fear of judgment. And in just two years of marriage, that support system has brought him a long way.
“I felt that she has been helping me be a better person,” Wade said in the ABC News interview.
BMWK, do you allow your spouse to see your insecurities? If so, how has your spouse helped you overcome them?