Beauty Gonzalez opens up about struggles with body image

Beauty Gonzalez gave a rare, raw, and intimate glimpse into her personal life, particularly—trigger warning—her struggles with body image.

Posting a bikini photo on Instagram, Beauty said, “What do you see? My hubby tells me every day, more than every day actually, how lovely and fit I look. Olivia never fails to tell me how skinny and sexy she thinks I am. You my dear followers shower me with kind words always. Good things right?”

But then the actress and host got real.

“I should be at the top of the world, but if you ask me about myself, all I ever see and all I ever think of myself is fat. This would be super funny if it wasn’t so seriously sad.”

Beauty said that she thought she may have body dysmorphia syndrome.

According to NHS UK, body dysmorphic disorder is a mental health condition where a person worries and is overwhelmed by flaws in their appearance, which are often not noticed by others.

“I recently read up on [body dysmorphia syndrome] and I seem to fit the bill,” she said.

“In short, I see things about my body in a different way, I perceive flaws that may be actually minute or [non-existent] in an exaggerated way,” she added.

“These thoughts often lead to anxiety and if unchecked could lead to depression and possibly eating disorders.”

Beauty said that she was thankful for having good people around her.

“Thank goodness my support system here at home would never allow me to get that far, but the threat exists.”

She also gave this call to action: “So the next time you see a loved one doing a body selfie or checking themselves out, pay a little attention, yes it could be just a little insta-vanity or a little bit of fun, but it could also be a little more serious.”

Beauty said that although she remained confident about herself, her personal battle could not be avoided all the time.

“I don’t like feeling this way but I really can’t help it, it just happens. Most of the time I try to ignore it, I force myself to believe what I hear and not what I see and feel,” she said.

“So I sashay and pose away with confidence, but back home, alone and in front of the mirror, the battle continues.”

Beauty ended her post by telling her followers, “I know I am not the only one who sometimes feels this way. We are not alone, I see you.” – RC, GMA News

Those in need of mental health services may contact the National Center for Mental Health at 0966-351-4518 (Globe/TM), 0917-899-8727 (Globe/TM), or 0908-639-2672 (Smart/Sun/TNT).