Actress Camila Mendes is speaking candidly about her mental health journey, revealing how body dysmorphia, an eating disorder, and panic attacks impacted her during her rise to fame on Riverdale.
The 32-year-old star, who portrayed Veronica Lodge on the hit CW drama series, shared how seeing herself on television during the early seasons intensified her insecurities and disrupted her acting process.
In a candid reflection, Mendes admitted that rewatching her performance during the first season of Riverdale triggered severe body image anxiety and fueled a recurring eating disorder.
“I would watch every episode and be like, ‘Oh my God, my stomach there…’ I was so insecure and it really fueled my eating disorder,” Mendes shared. “I would sometimes have panic attacks about… feeling so disgusting and needing to be on camera and just not being able to accept the way that I looked.”
Mendes explained that because she was in her early twenties when production began, her body was still naturally fluctuating. The pressure to maintain a specific appearance while being filmed constantly made it difficult to focus fully on her acting performances.
To navigate her health struggles, Mendes sought guidance from both a therapist and a nutritionist to rebuild a healthier relationship with food and her body image.
Overcoming Fear of Carbs: Mendes shared that she used to avoid carbohydrates like bread, leading to unhealthy binging and purging cycles. Working with professionals helped her reintroduce balanced meals into her routine.
Coping with On-Set Anxiety: In addition to body dysmorphia, Mendes dealt with panic attacks during later seasons of filming while isolated during production hiatuses. She turned to therapy, journaling, and stepping away from technology to regain peace of mind.
Advocating for Mental Health: Mendes continues to use her platform to support eating disorder recovery organizations like Project HEAL, aiming to break the stigma surrounding body image struggles in Hollywood.
Mendes emphasizes that while recovery takes continuous effort, professional guidance and self-compassion helped her overcome the cycle and feel grounded in her career.
