Photo: Chrissy Metz/Instagram
Chrissy Metzis an advocate for loving the skin you’re in but loving herself did not happen overnight.
In the two years since NBC’s smash hit dramaThis Is Uspremiered, breakout star Metz, 38, has found fame and a calling as a role model for body positivity. But the actress recently revealed that it has taken her entire life to finally feel comfortable enough to wear a swimsuit.
“I grew up wearing a T-shirt at the pool,” she toldGlamourfor theirNovember cover story. “As an adult, I was like, ‘I’m gonna find a bathing suit I like and I’m gonna wear it.'”
At the end of June, Metz did just that. While vacationing with a friend in Barbados at the Sandals resort, the actress documented the moment andsnapped a photo of herselfwearing a black Lane Bryant suit.
Chrissy Metz/Instagram
Though Metz was proud to shed some of her insecurities, she said other people were also impressed with her decision, but their responses came off in the wrong manner.
“There were people, like, ‘Oh my God, look at you! You know I could never do that,'” she recalled to the publication. “It’s a backhanded compliment, but I’m doing what I want to do.”
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Though her weight is discussed on the show, it is not the only thing her character deals with — something which is Metz is grateful for.
“People who’ve never been overweight don’t understand what it all entails. They think you’re just sitting in the corner and all you do is eat,” she toldGlamour. “My thing is, let’s get to the real issues — because the food is the symptom; it’s not the issue. Everyone’s filling a void with something.”
But even with the success of NBC’s drama, an appearance in Netflix’sSierra Burgess Is a Loser,and an upcoming filmBreakthroughslated for 2019, Metz continues to receive backlash for her weight.
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Metz has previously spoken out about embracing her curves, telling PEOPLE in our 2017 style issue that being on the red carpet hashelped her feel more confidentabout her appearance.
RELATED VIDEO: This Is Us’ Chrissy Metz Opens Up About Being Shamed for Her Weight and Why She’s Finally Happy in Her Own Skin: “I Don’t Focus on Numbers”
“When I started promotingThis Is Us, I was worried about how things would photograph, but I slowly gained confidence,” she continued. “I love bold colors and prints now, like the floral gown I wore to the Critics’ Choice Awards. Being a big girl, you want to hide sometimes, but with that dress, it was like ‘Boom! I’m here, in all my embroidered glory.'”
Metz added that she wants to be at the forefront of the body positive conversation to help inspire other women to step out of their comfort zone and experiment with clothing.
source: people.com
