There were quite a few jaw-dropping fashion moments at this year’s Grammy Awards, but no one showed as much skin as Ciara in her Alexandre Vauthier cut-up-to-there gown.

The singer, 30, recently spoke to People at the Veuve Clicquot Carnaval in Miami about how she got ready (both physically and mentally) to rock the gorgeous body-con number.

The singer put it all on display in a Alexandre Vauthier Haute Couture silk chiffon slip dress embellished with a crystal leopard design. The sexiest part? A slit that passed her hip bone. Forget side boob. Ciara is defining the side butt cheek.

“Through the fitting process, I got my confidence and I knew it was going to be fine. We kind of made sure we tacked it in places that it could blow,” Ciara told People of psyching herself up to wear such a revealing outfit. “When I was walking, though, I first got to the carpet, and I was like — OK, let me make sure everything is in place.”

As for any crazy pre-show workouts, the mom to 21-month-old Future Zahirsaid, “I didn’t specifically train for that day,” but admits, “I definitely cut back on some food.” So, what was the secret to showing off almost half of her body and looking utterly fabulous while doing so? Turns out, it’s simple H20.

“Making sure I’m not over-indulging, don’t want the belly to bulge. There is a unique way to eat on the day of red carpet. You just scale everything back — even water…” She adds of her strategy, “You just refrain from doing all the heavy foods that are going to make you bloat. And then cut the water intake back too.”

While reducing water intake wasn’t easy for the star, “I’m usually all about the water,” she did allow herself to let lose after the red carpet. “I’ll refrain from doing all the carbs before carpet and then after carpet is over, I kill the carbs,” she said of the post-show festivities.