Kristin Davis opens up about body image in Hollywood

Kristin Davis describes years of on set weight pressure and a friend’s remark about body dysmorphia that shaped her struggle with eating disorders.

Kristin Davis Opens Up About Body Shame in Hollywood

Kristin Davis spoke on her Are You a Charlotte? podcast about a thinness issue she faced during her Sex and the City years. She recalled Sarah Jessica Parker saying she had body dysmorphia and said the world told her she was pear shaped, making it hard to think straight. She described disordered eating, a fainting episode during a strict diet, and the pressure on women to maintain certain weights on set.

She also documented how fans offered back handed compliments and how the industry normalized this pressure. She referenced a February 2025 People interview about beauty standards and unhealthy dieting, including remarks from a Melrose Place costar and a line producer who urged her not to gain weight.

Davis's revelations highlight how Hollywood's beauty norms have long shaped body image. The toll goes beyond vanity, shaping mental health and career choices when a line between praise and policing becomes blurred. This isn’t just a personal story; it reflects a system that rewarded thinness while undervaluing healthier, diverse bodies.

The piece points to a path forward, calling for more open conversations and broader on screen representation, plus stronger support for performers. It also signals a broader risk for the industry if stigma keeps driving unhealthy practice and public fault lines over appearance remain unaddressed.

Highlights

Change on screen starts with transforming the culture behind the cameras.