Céline Dion Says That, at Age 51, She Is at Her ‘Pinnacle’: ‘I Am Discovering Myself More and More’

Céline Dion has fond memories of the blue-and-white floral dress her mother once sewed for her. At age 6, the future star would wear it with white gloves and a lacquered bamboo purse. “I felt so beautiful in it,” she told Closer Weekly in an exclusive new interview, on newsstands now. “I never wanted to take it off.”

This lifelong fashionista has many more reasons to feel good about herself today. In November, she launched the children’s clothing line Celinununu, and she’s about to embark on a laundry list of projects including a new album, world tour and beauty campaign. “My life started over again at 50,” explains Céline. “I am a woman assuming her own destiny, full of energy and in love with life. It’s never too late to start.”

Three years after the death of her husband-manager, René Angélil, Céline has assumed control of her estimated $430 million empire and is doing things her way. “I’ve reached a point in my life where I can let myself make my own decisions and choices,” she declares. “I am discovering myself more and more. At 51, I have the sense that I am at my pinnacle!”

Leaving her residency at Caesars Palace will close the door on her old life. “This whole project started as a dream for René and me, but you know what? It’s a book. And in life, there are many books,” says the star.

After her final show in June, she’ll start preparing for her Courage World Tour, but Céline expects to keep the Nevada home where she’s been raising her sons, René-Charles, 18, and twins Eddy and Nelson, 8. “I see my husband in my children’s eyes every day,” confides the singer. “He will always be with us.”

Music continues to play a crucial part in Céline’s story — “I have about 675 songs, and I want to sing them all!” she gushes — but fashion has taken on new importance. Last winter, Céline made heads turn whens he attended Paris Fashion Week dressed in an array of eye-catching ensembles. At the recent Met Gala, she went toe-to-toe with red-carpet regulars like Lady Gaga in a sparkling bodysuit and feather headpiece. “I’ve always loved fashion. It allows me to express myself and to be creative in a way that’s different from music,” she explains. “Of course, it has to look good, but I love to experiment.”

This willingness to be outrageous has earned Céline a score of younger fans, 3 million social media followers and a contract fro L’Oréal Paris. “I never saw that coming, especially at 51 years old,” says the performer, who approves of the company’s “I’m Worth It” slogan. “Telling other women that they, too, have self-worth, that they are strong, is obviously really important,” she says. “You cannot limit yourself.”

As for Céline, she’s ready for almost anything. “I’m not planning on slowing down, that’s for sure! I’d love to be in a movie someday,” she says. “I want to keep creating, I like to stay busy and, of course, I want to have fun.”

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