Brooke Shields, one of the most iconic actresses and models of her generation, recently opened up about the harsh criticism and insecurities she’s faced throughout her life. While she’s widely regarded as a beauty icon, her journey hasn’t been free from hurtful remarks—even from those closest to her.
The 57-year-old star revealed that her mother, Teri, who was also her manager, was often her harshest critic. Shields recalled, “My mother would get drunk and say, ‘Why don’t you move your fat ass?’ So, I always believed I had a fat ass.” These comments deeply impacted her self-image and took years to overcome. Her mother passed away in 2012 after a long battle with alcoholism, but the emotional scars lingered.
It wasn’t until her marriage to screenwriter Chris Henchy, her husband of 17 years, that Shields began to truly embrace her body. “I would walk backwards out of rooms, and he’d say: ‘No, I want to grab onto you,’” she shared. “He celebrated my womanliness and my body. I needed that.”
Shields, who was previously married to Andre Agassi, rose to fame as a teen actress and became a cultural icon with her 1980 Calvin Klein jeans ad. Despite being admired worldwide, she admitted that criticism always followed her. “I modeled swimwear at 15, and even then, I didn’t think I had a swimsuit body,” she said. Describing herself as “athletic” rather than “rail-thin,” she recalled how those descriptions shaped her perception of herself.
Years later, when she participated in another swimsuit campaign, Shields pushed herself to look her best, cutting out alcohol and exercising regularly. “I was the best version of myself,” she said, though she admitted, “I was also hungry.”
Her story highlights how even celebrated beauties struggle with insecurity. Thankfully, Henchy’s unwavering support helped her accept herself.
Shields has also recently spoken out about a sexual assault she endured over 30 years ago. In an interview with *People*, she revealed that a Hollywood executive assaulted her shortly after her graduation from Princeton. At the time, she blamed herself and stayed silent, fearing she would never work again. “I didn’t fight. I just froze,” she said. For years, only one person—her close friend and former security consultant Gavin de Becker—knew about the incident.
Today, Shields is sharing her experience publicly, hoping to help others feel less alone. Her story will be featured in the upcoming two-part documentary *Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields*. Reflecting on her journey, she said, “It’s a miracle that I survived. Everybody processes trauma differently. I want to advocate for women to speak their truth.”