Lana Condor

Last year, 21-year-old Lana Condor stole hearts with her performance as the love-letter-writing highschool student, Lara Jean Covey, in Netflix’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. The film, which is based on the first book of the same name in a trilogy written by Jenny Han, launched Condor into two new roles at once; in addition to playing Lara Jean on screen, her success has allowed her to become an inspiration for young girls. Not only that, but it’s a role she’s taken to well.

Alongside her work both in advocating for increased diversity in entertainment and for environmental conservation, Condor is also passionate about positive perceptions of body image. Before she became serious about acting, Condor was classically trained in ballet and contemporary dance. It was a competitive environment to grow up in, and the pressure to look and perform a certain way inevitably affected her own body image. “I know what it’s like to have an eating disorder and body dysmorphia—and also what it’s like to be a friend to someone who has that,” she shared during an interview with Elle Canada. “I look at my friends, and I’m like, ‘You’re fucking gorgeous.’ But they feel like they’re fat and ugly. I don’t know how this happened, that women feel like they need to apologize [for their physical imperfections].”

Fortunately, Condor has turned her relationship with food into a positive one. She now encourages others to be kind to their bodies and to allow themselves to enjoy and foster a better relationship with food. “I think it’s time to give people comfort,” she explained. “You have to eat. You have to stop thinking that a certain body shape is ideal, because it’s not.” One major way that Condor continues to advocate for and share this message is through her Instagram, where she frequently posts pictures of what she’s eating as a way to show that developing a positive relationship with food is possible. She wants anyone struggling with an eating disorder or body dysmorphia to know that they aren’t alone, and that there is always hope for change and positivity.