Molly Sims shared her experience of facing weight and appearance shaming when she entered the modeling industry in the 1990s. Sims recalled being criticized for her physical features, such as being told her nose was crooked and that she was not symmetrical. She also mentioned receiving comments about being 'too fat, too big, too blond, dark,' which led to a stressful period in her life.
Coming from a Southern family with a strong culinary tradition, Sims highlighted how her modeling career altered her relationship with food. She described transitioning from a food-centric upbringing to a phase where she felt the need to restrict her diet significantly, though she stopped short of describing it as starvation.
Despite the pressure to conform to certain body standards prevalent in the industry at the time, Sims expressed gratitude for not succumbing entirely to the mindset of extreme thinness. She recounted reaching a point of being very thin after being repeatedly told she was 'too fat' and 'would never work' in the industry.
Sims reflected on the era of 'heroin chic' in modeling, characterized by ultra-thin and androgynous aesthetics popularized by models like Kate Moss, Christy Turlington, and Cindy Crawford. She noted the shift in the industry towards a more 'sexy model' image with the emergence of figures like Gisele Bündchen in the late 1990s.
Following this shift, Sims found success in her career, securing prominent opportunities such as gracing the cover of Vogue, featuring in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues, and walking the runway at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Her journey in the modeling world reflects the evolving standards and trends within the industry over the years.
