‘Riverdale’ star: Camila Mendes on her eating disorder: ‘It was a terrible cycle’

Stress in everyday life, perfectionism on social media and pressure from outside – mental illnesses – and thus also eating disorders – are not uncommon for people in public life. Many influencers, actors or singers struggle with anxiety disorders, depression or anorexia.

The fight with your own body

The way out of this vicious circle, which always seems to catch up with you, is not easy and can hardly be mastered without professional help. However, many celebrities hide their problems from the public, want to maintain their perfect image or simply do not have the strength to make their struggle public.

But in recent years there has been a growing willingness to open up, and more and more young people are addressing their psychological problems or their struggle with eating. One of them is the Brazilian-American actress Camila Mendes. The 28-year-old is best known for her role as Veronica Lodge on the series Riverdale. But with the fame, the dark side of the industry came to light again.

During the filming of the first season, the actress struggled with her anorexia. The constant recordings of her body bothered her and she slipped into an eating disorder again. “I watched every episode back then and I was like, ‘Oh my god, my stomach.’ I was so insecure. I looked at myself and analyzed myself critically,” she now tells Eilleen Kelly in the current episode of the podcast “Going Mental”. Years later, she can talk openly about her insecurities and problems at the time.

She only managed to get out of anorexia by going to a therapist and working with a nutritionist. She helped Mendes overcome her fear of bread. “I was so scared of eating carbs, so I avoided it for a long time. Then, in a short period of time, I ate way too much of it again. It was an awful cycle.” The nutritionist helped the actress bring bread back into her life, saying, “See, it’s not going to kill you.”

Lengthy recovery process

But the recovery process was long. Mendes also advises others who suffer from eating disorders or other mental health problems to see a professional. “I could never have gotten out of it myself. Friends and family can’t always give you the advice you need. Even if they don’t want it, they can actually make it worse.”

The 28-year-old is considered cured, but is still being treated by a therapist. After her battle with the eating disorder, she wants to encourage others with the same concerns and take a step in the right direction. Although her path is not over yet and Mendes wants to continue working on herself, she states: “At the end of the day, all that matters is that you are healthy.”