Size doesn't equate to beauty. I don't understand why that's a thing. Well, I do, because the media has told us thin is beautiful. But is it?
Chrissy Metz
I know that sounds corny. And I know you've heard it before. But it's really true: We're so much more than our bodies.
I just have to be very clear. Whether or not I lose weight or stay the same, it's purely a choice of mine for health. Not because I think that plus size, curvy, voluptuous, big bodies aren't attractive - because I think they're awesome and sexy.
My sister's tall, thin, model-esque.
I wanted to be the female Jim Carrey.
I carry a lot of my weight in my stomach. I just want to have... not even a number, but to have my body in a different shape.
There have been so many discussions about my weight: How is she going to lose weight? Is she going to lose weight? When is she going to lose weight? It's kind of it's funny.
I do want to lose weight. But not because anyone is telling me to do it.
Most of my stuff comes from Eloquii, Torrid, Lane Bryant - even Target!
I want to have a fit, healthy body and not have to be put in a box. I don't want to be limited by anything.
My father is a big guy; he's had a quadruple bypass surgery, and that's scary. Those are real things that happen in families with overweight people, and I don't want that.
There is something that happens when you are grateful: You continue to keep receiving blessings. So I will always be grateful.
Our weights fluctuate: Some people gain or lose, even friends who are average size. If I would say 'I'm fat,' my friends would say, 'Don't say that!' And I'd think, 'Are you offended, you can't handle the word? Or do you think I am embarrassed?'
I moved in with a roommate who told me, 'Stay with me until you can afford rent. Don't give up.' People who supported me were like, 'If you don't have money for food, I'll cook you dinner. You don't have money for acting class? Let's get together and read lines.'
I am of the thinking that everything happens as it should and when it should.
When I'm not shooting, I'm a leggings and boots girl. I like cute and casual - for me, it's all about feeling good and being comfortable.
I would love to go on 'The Biggest Loser,' where it's a concentrated thing.
Sometimes I feel like I'm two people. I'm proud of who I am as a person, but I do want to be at a healthy weight.
I kept auditioning, with no savings and no money, credit card debt gaining interest. I went on unemployment. I bought ramen noodles at dollar stores. I never had to - God forbid - live on the streets.
If there was going to be a pioneer of the plus-size girl of my shape on TV, why not me?
There are plus-size women who've paved the way - Rebel Wilson, Gabby Sidibe, Melissa McCarthy. I can't wait for the day when I can have a conversation, and it's not about the size of my pants but how I prepared for the role.
I don't have to have a man in my life, and I think men are attracted to that.
It can be very hard to find clothing for different body shapes. After all, there are only, what, five companies for plus-size women?
People don't realize how much money you have to spend: styling, publicity, a manager, and your agent. That's a chunk of change.
Whether you're tall and you play a basketball player, or overweight and you play somebody who is dealing with the issues behind the weight, we all have to pull from real life to make those performances authentic.
I'm the middle child.
I started coming into my own at 30, discovering what's important to me, not caring what other people think.
The truth is, I don't find my value in my body or my weight. It's really more about who I am and what I can offer as a human being to the people in my life and the people in the world.
I think everyone has shame about something, whether it's a lack of a relationship with a child or maybe their weight or a lack of communication within their marriage. Everyone can relate to that because we all have something that we're like, 'God, I can work on that,' or, 'I wish I was better at doing this.'
I try to not to overanalyze, not to watch myself too much, but to be present in life and in my art. I'm so glad it comes off in that way.
I eat my feelings - when I'm happy, when I'm sad.
If I find a cute skirt, I'm not fixated on a brand.
I look in the mirror, and I'm a plus-size girl, but I got it going on.
There were times I'd be nervous walking home from elementary school, thinking, 'If that red tag from the power company saying our lights are turned off is on the door handle, I don't know what I'll do.'
When I turned 30, I had this epiphany that my life is my own and my choices are my own.
I have been in Los Angeles for a long time, and I have wanted to be a series lead for a long time. It's literally on my bucket list.
When I booked 'This Is Us,' I had 81 cents in my bank account.
I would say that when you do something out of the goodness of your heart, and you don't know what the repercussions will be, you have to live with that. And it can be devastating. Because the intention was there.
When I first heard 'Harper's Bazaar' wanted me to be sexy, I was like, 'Who, me?' I knew y'all were edgy, but this is incredible - it's validation.
So much of the mainstream media has taught us what beauty is, but everyone is beautiful.
I, as Chrissy, want to do things that mentally, emotionally and physically make me the best that I can be.
Why not have a motivation beyond me to get to a healthy weight? Every actor does that. We're chameleons. We change; we grow as an actor. You lose weight, you gain weight, you change your hair or whatever.
I'm on this journey to inspire people and to encourage them.
I'm paving the road for other women and men who know they're destined for greatness, but they don't believe it yet.
If you can't love who you are now, you can't get to the place you want to be.
You don't realize that somebody who's average or even very fit could relate to someone who's overweight, but it's not about our size - it's how we look at ourselves and how we feel about ourselves.
The way I stand up to bullies is with kindness and love. Because I think that's what they really need. They're misunderstood and probably really upset themselves.
At the end of the day... my love for my body... comes from within.
It's impossible to accept love from anyone else if you don't love yourself. It's a big issue, particularly for us plus-size ladies and for anyone dealing with weight, because we're not taught to love ourselves or be our own cheerleaders.
If I ever end up on the worst-dressed list, it's not going to make me fall apart.