In a recent appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show," Valerie Bertinelli opened up about her journey towards self-acceptance and body positivity. The conversation stemmed from a viral underwear selfie Bertinelli posted on Instagram, which she proudly discussed with Barrymore and co-host Ross Matthews.
Bertinelli explained her decision to share the photo, stating, "I have been coming to terms with my body now, aging, and I saw myself in the light. And I went, ‘Oh I'm not mad at that.’" She even lifted her sweater on the show to reveal her midriff, emphasizing her pride in her body's natural changes. "Like all those planks and sit-ups I've done, you can see underneath the saggy skin," she joked, adding, "It's 64 years of gravity. It's science."
Bertinelli also addressed the constant scrutiny she's faced regarding her weight, saying, "There's so many people, ‘You're too thin. You're too fat… I'm a size 10. How is that too thin? How is that too fat? I'm just me. It's my body.’"
The actress further elaborated on her self-love journey in an Instagram post featuring the underwear selfie, mentioning the "madness" her body has gone through in the past year. This journey has included abstaining from alcohol, focusing on her future, and sharing inspirational messages with her followers.
Bertinelli's path to self-acceptance also involved working on her cookbook, "Indulge," which she described as a therapeutic process. She told People magazine that healing wasn't easy and required "a lot of therapy sessions" and learning to "deserve to feel good." She connected the cookbook to her emotional healing, stating, "This cookbook got me through all of it."
Bertinelli's journey is a testament to her resilience and commitment to self-love. From addressing body image pressures to embracing her authentic self, she continues to inspire others to do the same.
