Gwen Stefani’s Balancing Act

Gwen Stefani gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “rock star mom.” The 42-year-old No Doubt frontwoman recently opened up to Harper’s Bazaar magazine about how she manages the chaos of her life as a wife, mother of two, fashion designer, and lead singer of one of the hottest bands out there right now.

Where to start? Let’s start with what she’s most known for – her career as a singer-songwriter. No Doubt has released five albums, with their bestselling record being 1995’s Tragic Kingdom, which sold more than 16 million copies. No Doubt has won two Grammy Awards and six MTV Video Music Awards.

After a 10+ year hiatus to focus on her solo career and family, Gwen is getting right back into the game with No Doubt. Their new album, titled Push and Shove, is one of the most highly anticipated albums of the year. Originally slated to be out last year, the band pushed it back to 2012.

The statement issued last year on the No Doubt website read, “Ideally our new record would be coming out this year but it's just not ready yet. We don't want to rush this album just to get it out. This collection of songs means everything to us and our only priority right now is to make sure that it's the best album we can possibly make. There is still more work for us to do.”

The band also wrote, “We love our fans and are doing this for your ears and want you to know how much we appreciate your patience and support.”

Gwen talked with Harper’s about the difficulty in trying to balance motherhood and her career.  “It’s, like, the real deal, dude. It’s super fun being a mom, but it’s hard too. Finding that balance between work and family is the hardest thing I’ve ever done – by far.”

Gwen has a 6-year-old son, Kingston, and a 4-year-old son, Zuma, with her British rocker husband Gavin Rossdale.

Between her two primary jobs of singer and mother, much emphasis is always placed on her appearance, as she is also a reluctant role model for women. Gwen is known for her six-pack abs and overall lean (but fit) figure.

“I hate talking about my body [all the time]; it’s ridiculous. There is no secret: you just have to eat healthy, work out, and torture yourself!” Gwen said she goes to the gym when she can squeeze it in, although spending time with her kids come first.

Gwen also admitted that her signature style is a motivator to stay healthy and fit. “I like to wear clothes too much, so I try to keep focused.”

She also likes to wear makeup. Loves it, actually.

"I've always been a girl who loves to dress up. I already put my makeup on twice today: I put it on to take my kid to school, and then I went home, washed my face, and put it on again to have lunch with you. I like to make my husband like me more, and he likes it when I'm wearing makeup."

At 42, her makeup and fashion obsessions seem to be working pretty well for her. She still competes with the twentysomethings in Hollywood on the “Hot 100” lists and looks absolutely gorgeous in her Harper’s photo shoot, donning her signature platinum blonde locks, blood red lips, and a variety of pink and black gowns to contrast with a giant pink flower hat that only Gwen could manage to look classy in. Anyone else wearing it should look absolutely ridiculous.

Gwen shared an antidote about when and how she started donning her red lip look: “I remember sitting in my ghetto, beat-up Honda Prelude, and putting on that lipstick in the rear-view mirror and being like, ‘Uh-huh, I like that. That’s the sh** right there.’ I never stopped after that.”

Gwen also seems to be remaining balanced while in the spotlight all the time. She doesn’t let the tabloids even upset her.

"That someone would say something untrue or bad about me doesn't bother me. It's like water off a duck's back. None of that stuff matters. There's something in me, being this passive person, that those kinds of things don't upset me. I know they can say anything; they can just make something up. But what are you going to do? It's not part of my reality, so it's okay."

The Harper’s with Gwen on the cover will be available August 21. It is the largest Harper’s ever printed.

No Doubt’s first single from Push and Shove titled “Settle Down,” was revealed last month, the entire album isn’t available until September 25. The anticipation is killing us, but that is probably the point. We’ll see you in line waiting to get it!