14 DAY TRIAL // You might not be able to tell it by looking at her, but Hayden Panettiere, as pretty and confident as she seems, also struggled with issues with low self-esteem. She even struggled with body dysmorphia, she reveals in a new interview.
When she was still relatively “new” on the scene thanks to “Heroes” and she’d be constantly hounded by the paparazzi, Hayden was photographed at the beach in one of her most unguarded moments.
The photos were then printed in one tabloid, with a close up on her thigh to reveal her cellulite. Hayden was so criticized and mocked online she lost the tiniest shred of confidence she ever had, she tells Women’s Health (as cited by Us Weekly).
“I was mortified. It gave me such body dysmorphia for so long. But I remember reminding myself that beauty is an opinion, not a fact. And it has always made me feel better,” she says.
While it could be argued that Hayden is using the term body dysmorphia a bit lightly in this context (since it refers to a much more serious condition than mere low self-esteem), she does make a valid argument: women are scrutinized and criticized more than ever.
At the same time, she underlines that this particular incident made her more aware of how she must look on camera, which translated into taking better care of her body.
She works out regularly now and, while she would never stick to strict diet, she eats only healthy foods.
“Eating healthy is a constant battle. I love chips. I find when I’m overly concerned about what I eat, I stress out my body and put on weight,” she says.
Beyond taking proper care of one’s body, Hayden wants to send out a much simpler message: beauty is confidence.
“People can tell when you’re happy with being you and when you’re not. It’s only cheesy because it’s true,” she says.
“As I’ve gotten older and grown into my body, I’ve started realizing that the way you carry yourself and that light coming out of your eyes are the most attractive things about you,” the actress adds.