The INSIDER Summary:
- Raven-Symoné opened up to People magazine about how being body-shamed at a young age impacted her mental health.
- The star said that having her body criticized on set when she was as young as seven years old gave her "so many mental issues."
- Now, Raven-Symoné is acting on Disney Channel again and appreciates that the industry has grown to become more body-positive.
It's not easy to grow up in the spotlight.
In an interview with People magazine, actress Raven-Symoné shared how being shamed for her weight and appearance at a young age had a negative impact on her.
The former Disney Channel star known for "That's So Raven" told the magazine that she would have preferred to be a young actress in today's more body-positive world rather than in the early 2000s, when body-shaming was considered normal.
"I wish I was living now as a younger person. I probably wouldn’t have so many mental issues," she told People.
Growing up, Raven-Symoné said she faced some upsetting situations because of people criticizing her body.
As a teen, she was told that she was "too big" to go on tour.
"[They said] I was too big to be doing an hour and a half concert. 'I don't know how she can dance being that big.' And I was like, 'I still did it!'" Raven-Symoné told People. "I was on tour forever because it’s not about your size, it's about what you have to say, if you can sing or dance, and performing. It's not about your size."
That wasn't the first time the actress encountered body-shaming.
On a 2015 episode of "The View," the actress recalled that at the age of seven she was told to eat less while on set for "The Cosby Show." She played the character of Olivia.
"I remember not being able to have the bagel or anything at — we would call it crafty, where it’s just a table of food, ready for you to eat whatever you want," she said. "And I remember people would be like, ‘You can’t eat that. You’re getting fat!' I’m like, 'I’m 7! I’m hungry!'"
Thankfully, things have gotten better — not only for Raven-Symoné, but also for the entertainment industry.
Nowadays, the actress is back on the Disney Channel, starring in "Raven's Home," a "That's so Raven" spin-off that revisits Raven Baxter as a single mother.
Raven-Symoné's charachter Raven Baxter is back to her usual hijinks.
This time around, Raven-Symoné noted that there has been a widespread acceptance of body-positivity and diversity in the entertainment industry — and she loves it.
"I love embracing your body. In this day and age you have all kinds, and it’s funny, it’s serious, it’s every color, it’s every head shape, it’s every hair. And there’s androgyny, and there’s LGBT coming in, and it feels good," she told the magazine. "We didn’t have it enough last time and I guess that’s what the past is for — to make sure the present is what it needs to be."
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