34-year-old That’s So Raven star, Raven-Symoné , recently opened up in an interview with People about her experience dealing with body shaming in Hollywood.
Which, in case you didn’t know, is a very serious problem.
She also explained how her famous 2013 hiatus was just what she needed to get to know herself and her sexuality: “I had time to think for myself.”
In a recent interview with *People*, Raven-Symoné Pearman got real about struggling with her body image in Hollywood, what it was like to be a child actor, and opening up to the public about her sexuality.
We’re not used to seeing this side of Raven and her personal life, so it’s a big deal!
She admitted that making her personal life public is something that she is used to and isn’t exactly comfortable with doing.
“I’m scared,” she said . “I’m not used to putting my personal life out there.”
I don’t blame her! The media can be scary!
For those of you that don’t already know, Raven recently tied the knot with 32-year-old Miranda Pearman.
Fans were super happy for the star when she made the announcement.
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“I got married to a woman who understands me,” she wrote on Instagram.
“From trigger to joy, from breakfast to midnight snack, from stage to home,” she went on.
“I love you Mrs. Pearman-Maday! Let’s tear this world a new [expletive]!!! I’s married NOW.”
These two are adorable! They deserve all the happiness in the world.
Anyways, Raven explained that her famous 2013 hiatus really helped her understand herself and her sexuality.
Which makes sense, since stepping away from the limelight meant she had the opportunity to focus on herself.
“What it did was help me with my sexuality,” she said. “I actually had time to think for myself “.
“And no one to tell me differently,” she added.
“It helped me realize that I’m kind of addicted to the industry because of the fact I had been in it for so long .”
She isn’t the first star to say something like this!
She went on to add that she worked very hard on turning her life around from where it had been. “I had to transform that addiction into something that is positive for me,” she went on.
“Because I was getting very toxic to myself and others .”
She revealed that up until then, her entire life was based on Hollywood’s standards and expectations of her, from her appearance to the things she was able to speak about.
“My whole life is kind of based on what the industry wants,” she said .
“Other people controlled my hair, my eyebrows, my clothing, my words, everything.”
She revealed that the early 2000s were a difficult time for her because that is when she began to experience body-shaming.
Which, if you know anything about Hollywood, is a very real and awful problem.
“There was definitely a seesaw within my mind,” she said.
She said that nowadays she understands that people come in all different shapes and sizes, and that helped her get past the haters.
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“I prevailed over it because at the end of the day, it’s like, ‘Come on, people, everybody’s a different size.’”
Fortunately, she is long-passed that difficult period of her career and revealed that now, she is finally “taking control” of her life.
She explained that at certain points, she was putting her career and her professional success ahead of her mental health.
“I push myself aside so much to make sure that my career is on point that I don’t always take care of my mental health,” she said .
But she admitted that she is still learning and trying to figure everything out.
One day at a time, am I right everyone?
“I’m still growing into who I am and still figuring it out,” she said . We all are!
I can’t imagine that it’s easy on one’s psyche to be in the spotlight from such a young age, but Raven seems to have a handle on it now more than ever!
You go, girl! Speak your truth and live your best life!
What do you think of *That’s So Raven* star, Raven-Symoné Pearman’s recent interview, revealing that she used to be body-shamed and that her 2013 hiatus from the industry helped her discover herself?
Let us know in the comments below! We would love to hear from you!