Tara Reid, best known for her role as Vicky Lathum in the American Pie series, has opened up about developing a 'thicker skin' in the wake of criticism over her looks.
The American actress was one of the 'it' girls of the iconic '90s-'00s era, appearing in a number of popular films such as Cruel intentions, Van Wilder, The Big Lebowski and Josie and the Pussycats, to name a few.
After finding widespread Hollywood success aged just 22, Reid celebrated like any actor in their early 20s would: hard.
She became one of the definitive sex symbols of her time through her roles and was one of the most scrutinised celebrities in the industry.
Advert
With scrutiny though, comes controversy, and the actress started to make headlines for all the wrong reasons, with her entertainment career slowly petering out as she became the host of a reality TV show called Taradise, on E!.
By 2008, she had entered rehab for problems with alcohol, as she told People magazine that she had 'done enough [partying] for a lifetime.'
It looks like she is experiencing something of a resurgence in pop culture though, as she admitted 'the ‘90s are coming back right now' in an interview with Bustle.
The aesthetic, the appreciation of culture at the time, as well as film and TV from the period feels like it's loved now more than other, and much of the younger generation is discovering Reid for the first time.
But it was her inclusion in Fox reality quasi-military training television series Special Forces that really hit home, as problems from her past became irrelevant for her after the support she received from fans.
In her prime, she made the cover of US Weekly, with a story called 'My Plastic Surgery Nightmare', detailing how the cosmetic work done on her was botched.
It was just the start of the onslaught from the media about her looks, which people continued to call out and criticise.
During her appearance on Special Forces, she explained: “Everyone says, ‘She got so old looking, she looks bad, she looks like sh*t.’ And just this s**t that goes on social media,” before describing herself as a 'broken bird'.
But now, following the positive reaction, the 48-year-old admitted: “I’ve never felt so much love and support in my life.”
Reid said that she went on the show to get a 'thicker skin', growing tired of the talk around her appearance, but powerfully stated: “I feel fine in my body. It’s just no one else does.”
Her own friend, American radio host Billy Bush, told her last October that she was 'too skinny', but the actress went on to explain that the support of the public has helped her get over the issue.
The star is no longer looked at as a fallen 00s celeb, but rather a survivor, as Special Forces show-runner Becky Clarke opened up about the star.
“We’ve all got scars, haven’t we? We’ve all suffered the highs and the lows. And that’s what Tara represents. I think people — and particularly women of a certain age — tuned in wanting to find out about her and connect. Because she’s real.
“She came not to just prove to people that there was more to her than the tabloid tale. She came for herself,” Clarke stated.
Topics: Mental Health, Celebrity, TV and Film, Entertainment
Joshua Nair