Riverdale’s Lili Reinheart claims her ‘bigger boobs and cellulite’ left her intimidated to strip off on show
LILI Reinhart has opened up about her battle with body image while starring in Riverdale.
The popular teen drama is known for its young, beautiful cast and in recent weeks has garnered criticism for just that.
Many have claimed the show creates unrealistic beauty standards, with the actors bearing no resemblance to the age group they’re portraying.
When one viewer tweeted a complaint that “every single person is a 25+ with a perfectly chiselled body,” Lili, who plays Betty Cooper, felt compelled to speak out.
She admitted that she was grappling with her own insecurities, particularly when it came to stripping off on camera.
"Actually, not everyone on this show is perfectly chiselled," she began.
"And even I feel intimidated by the physique of my surrounding cast mates sometimes when I have to do bra/underwear scenes.
"I've felt very insecure due to the expectation that people have for women on TV, what they should look like.”
However, Lili stressed that she was compelling herself to accept and celebrate her physique, despite often being pitted against her co-stars.
"But I have come to terms with my body and that I'm not the kind of person you would see walking on a runway during fashion week,” she went on.
I have bigger boobs, I have cellulite on my thighs/butt, and my stomach sticks out rather than curves in.
"This is still something I struggle with on a daily basis. And it doesn't help when I'm being compared to other women."
Lili even opened up about her mental health, revealing that in recent weeks she was suffering from depression.
"I have gained weight due to depression the last two months and I've felt very insecure about it," she continued.
"But I did a recent bra and underwear scene and felt it was my obligation to be strong and show confidence in myself, looking as I do.
“And I want other young women to see my body on TV and feel comfort in the fact that I'm not a size 0. And I'm not a perfect hourglass shape.
She concluded: "This industry struggles with accurate representation of female and male bodies, so I commend the women who have helped our industry take a step in the right and authentic direction (Charli Howard being my favourite role model)."
Lili was soon flooded with messages of support, with many calling her post “refreshing” and inspirational”.
Last month, Lili admitted that several main characters could be set to exit the show at the end of season 4.
Betty, Archie, Veronica and Jughead are all taking on their senior year, and with college looming, it's unknown who may stick around in Riverdale.
Riverdale seasons 1-4 are available to stream on Netflix.