With over 10 million females in the U.S. alone fighting a difficult battle with some form of an eating disorder, it makes it rare for anyone of us to not know someone with body image insecurities. This became even more apparent when Team True Beauty launched and we began receiving support from all over the world. A lot of that great support has come from those involved in an industry which places the heaviest emphasis on outside appearances. Of course I'm talking about the world of entertainment. We are so grateful to those who have been contributing their admirable voices to help decrease that heartbreakingly-high statistic as well as help those struggling with any kind of self-esteem issue tied to their image.
Actress Allison Munn (One Tree Hill) is one of those strong women who has not let Hollywood's unrealistic guidelines alter her. She has joined Team True Beauty to help diffuse the unhealthy examples that can be placed by the entertainment industry. Munn shares her perspective on this growing epidemic and how she manages it in Hollywood. She offers her meaningful advice to girls everywhere to help us promote the message that true beauty comes from living and looking healthy with an open heart.
Thank you Allison for supporting Team True Beauty! We love having you on board.
Allison- It's so cool that you're doing this. I'm really impressed.
We're so impressed and amazed by the overwhelming support. When we started this, we never thought this many people would follow the account and support our cause. The response has been incredible.
Allison- It also shows that it's a pretty hot issue. It's something that we all think about and worry about and it's nice to have a place to focus all those worries through you. It's nice to be able to have a place to be able to support each other.
Since Team True Beauty launched, we've received so many messages from girls from all over the world, all ages, telling us how excited they are about a campaign like this and how they were waiting for an outlet like this.
Allison- Yeah what's happened is an example of what can come out of a very bad thing. You needed to respond to something that you didn't agree with. It was out in the media. And you guys created this amazing campaign because of it. It's truly a good example of how something good can rise from something bad.
Starting out as a young adult in Hollywood did you ever feel the pressure to have the 'perfect image' by Hollywood standards?
Allison- Of course. You're surrounded by such beautiful people.(Laughs) People joke that LA is sort of the town where the prettiest girl of every single high school goes to. And it can be really daunting. I've been different sizes as I've grown up. I started a while back so my body has gone through changes. In your twenties your metabolism is different from how it is at the end of your twenties. Then it changes in your early 30's. I had a hard time trying to stay within this image that I feel like I should be in now, while being on a show. When I was on What I Like About You I thought about it a lot. I have my own insecurities about it. But I feel like I've come into a good place with it. It's definitely a very hot topic. I've worked with a lot of girls and I've had a lot of friends who have gone down the wrong path and have let their weight consume them. And I think it's a little short sided. In this town, it's so much more than that. A lot of girls think that you just have to be pretty and beautiful to be on TV. That's not necessarily true. It's not as often as I wold hope, but usually talent wins out. That's what I've always tried to hold on to when I've had my moments of self-doubt.
I agree. I think it's important for young girls who want to work in Hollywood to know that if you don't work hard enough, if you don't educate yourself, the beauty can dwell down pretty quickly.
Allison- Right. That's definitely true. I think the roles that I choose, that I audition are less on the beauty side. They have to be beautiful because when the young girls are written, when they describe the character, they always say beautiful. But, I always go towards the quirkier sort of character. The ones that are funnier, because there's less pressure on you to model beautiful. And I love that I've sort of found my niche in the quirkier, funnier roles. That's where I'm most comfortable.
Did you deal with the issue before you entered the public eye, as just a teenager in school?
Allison- No, never. I was always very shy with my body. I always kept myself very well-covered. So I wouldn't say I was necessarily comfortable with my body. I never thought about dieting a day in my life until it's a little more age appropriate to. When I was a kid I ate terribly. Ate junk food. Doritos and donuts. (Laughs) I didn't think twice about it. I guess I didn't start to think about it until I started acting. I wasn't dieting. You know I'm from the south. I'm from South Carolina and we eat down there! (Laughs) We like our food!
Do you think the pressure to be thin and look a certain way is more prominent now than it was say ten years ago?
Allison- It's hard to say. Ten years ago the supermodels were incredibly skinny. You remember those Kate Moss days? Even though it's still a huge issue, and anorexia has taken many lives, I do feel like there's been a shift in the magazines that I'm reading. Now it's drop ten pounds but in the healthier way. I feel like there's a really big push for health right now which I love. Oprah just did her vegan week. Alicia Silverstone is promoting veganism. I like to hear things like that because those are diets that are primarily concerned with the health of the body.
It's appropriate that we're having this conversation today because Karen Carpenter died in 1983 on this day from anorexia.
I know in France there's a law that makes it illegal publicly incite extreme thinness. It applies to magazines, advertisers and websites. And in Spain as well, models no longer can be ultra thin. There's a certain size they have to be maintain. So this is very much a global issue.
Allison- I remember reading about that. There was a French model who just died. Isabella Caro. She's a French actress and model and she became the spokesperson against anorexia by allowing photographers to take very, very up close photos of her body. She became an advocate for anorexia at the end of her life.
How do you think they can they rise above the criticism to accept themselves how they are and understand that being stick thin and starving yourself does not lead to happiness and perfection?
Allison- I wish they can get involved with charity and get involved in other things so they're not always self-focused. I think from what I understand anorexia is such a self-focused disease, that if you could somehow pull your mind away from it and focus on something that's bigger than yourself and focus primarily on health. I wish they had better role models. I wish we did see more average size girls on television.
You know it's really sad when Jennifer Love Hewitt was in the ocean having a great time and then she's on every magazine for being fat. It's really sad. And it's really scary. If I had a daughter, I would be terrified for her.
I remember that! I thought that was crazy that they attacked her then. And remember the whole thing with Jessica Simpson and the ridiculous 'mom jeans' controversy?
Allison- Oh my god yes! It's terrible the media was so quick to jump on this bandwagon.
The media wouldn't let go of it, too. I remember seeing commentators criticizing the magazines for making fun of Jessica's body, but then they would keep reporting on it day after day and I thought why are you continuing to bring attention it as well? They just made it worse.
Allison- Yes. They're feeding the fire. They're fueling the machine.
It's really unfortunate. When girls see that, when they see someone like Jennifer Love Hewitt, who's so petite being criticized, then what do others think about themselves?
Allison- Right. If she's fat, than what am I? Meanwhile you're an average size teenager.
I mean at The Gap you have a size zero and a zero petite. All this vanity sizing is also an issue, too. I really think for things to turn a corner, the fashion industry and the entertainment industry have to reach out and say they're going to make a difference.
Absolutely! They do play a huge role. I remember in the movie Mean Girls when the store associate said to one of the girls who needed a size bigger than 4, that she could try Sears and they made it seem like she was too big. And that was such a popular movie, millions of girls saw it and there's that influence again. Maybe it's unintentional, they want to be funny for the storyline. But I think there needs to be more caution now.
Allison- Yes, you're right. I think it would be great if the networks can get together and have quotas. If that's how it has to be. Okay well for every miniature person that we have here, we need to cast someone of normal size. I was watching 90210 and they had this beautiful girl, she was in the band. [Amber Wallace] That was great casting. Why can't we have that more? It was interesting for me because it was somebody who was physically different from the other girls on the show. I think it's more realistic.
I agree. One of the girls' on One Tree Hill said to me once she loves how all her female co-stars are, while thin, not so thin and unhealthy. They're healthy. And fit.
Allison- I look around the girls at the trailer while we're at work on One Tree Hill and while they're thin and beautiful, but they're not skinny. They're thin, healthy girls. And there's a big push for health. The craft services on the set, they always have a vegan option. The snacks, you'll have your bad snacks then you'll have all these fruits and nuts. And I really appreciate a healthy set.
In an industry and society that's fighting to make you someone you're not, how do you maintain who you really are and not let all the negative pressure affect you?
Allison- I surround myself with people that don't buy into it. Most of my friends aren't in the industry. And let's say I was having a dinner party and I didn't eat a single carb and I only put a couple of pieces of broccoli on my plate, they would give me such a hard time. And I love that. I love them for that. They keep me grounded. They would snap me right in if my focus got lost. I also try to focus outward more than I focus inward. Of course that doesn't mean I don't have my bad days. A lot of times I'll look in the mirror, especially after the holidays like right now! (Laughs) When my jeans aren't fitting the way they used to fit, I will have a bad day but I don't let it change my self image idea. What will I do? I'll go for a run. I'll go take a yoga class. That fully benefits me.
And you feel better about yourself after that.
Allison- Absolutely! I mean who doesn't feel great after a workout? Or a run. Or a hike. When I want to lose a couple pounds, I'll cut out the bad stuff. But I mostly head for the hills. I go on a hike. I try to enjoy the beauty of California. In Wilmington, I'll go run the loop. There's this loop in Wrightsville Beach. I did the half-marathon with Sophia [Bush] in November. We had a blast. It was for such a good cause. It was just so neat to be a part of that environment. I've never really done any races before. It's hard to say race, because I walked with Sophia! (Laughs) She was injured at the time, she would have run it if she could. She had been training to run it. But it got me excited about running because these runners were so healthy. And they looked so vibrant and full of life. While I was exhausted after walking the thing! So I started this running program in the beginning of December when I got back. On my ipod I just got this running program and I'm up to running three miles, and I've never ever in my life been able to do that. Anytime that sort of self-doubt creeps in, doing something where you can accomplish something is great. I just ran three miles! I've never done that in my life. When you can pat yourself on the back, there's a lot of good in that.
Congrats on that! That is a great achievement!
Allison- Thank you. It's really not that big of a deal for most people, but for me it's like a banner achievement. I feel like I deserved a gold medal. (Laughs)
What is your final message to girls who are maybe dealing with self-esteem and self-image insecurities right now? What would you like to say to them?
Allison- I would express again what Daphne [Zuniga] said in her amazing letter. Because what she said is so perfect. Know you are loved. Know that. The self-hatred that everybody is dealing with is not worth it. You're better than that. That's what I wish I could tell young girls. It's not worth it. Your life gets better and better and better the older you get. These problems, they will go away. But you have to take care of your body, and you have to take care of yourself, and your heart and your mind. Please don't do that by starving yourself.
Follow @AllisonMunn & @TeamTrueBeauty on Twitter!
For much more on The Team True Beauty Campaign-read the original release and check out The Team True Beauty Crowdrise page here!
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