Brooke Shields is one of the most iconic actresses and supermodels of her generation, known for her beauty and talent. But behind her success, she faced harsh criticism — some from the people closest to her.
Now 57, Shields is opening up about the challenges she faced, particularly her complicated relationship with her mother, Teri, who also acted as her manager. Teri, who struggled with alcoholism, would often body-shame her daughter, leaving lasting emotional scars. “My mother would get drunk and say: ‘Why don’t you move your fat ass?’” Shields recalled. “I’ve always believed I had a fat ass.”
After her mother’s passing in 2012, Shields began to heal with the support of her husband, screenwriter Chris Henchy. “He really celebrated my womanliness and my body,” she shared. This support helped her overcome years of self-doubt rooted in early criticism.
Despite being seen as a beauty icon — from her Calvin Klein ads at 15 to Hollywood roles — Shields admits she struggled with body image. “I didn’t think I had a swimsuit body,” she said, even when modeling swimwear. “I was always described as ‘athletic,’ not a runway model.”
She recently embraced another swimsuit campaign, committing to feeling and looking her best — though she admits, “I was also hungry.”
Shields has also revealed for the first time that she was sexually assaulted by a Hollywood executive shortly after graduating from Princeton. At the time, she blamed herself and stayed silent, fearing her story wouldn’t be believed. “I didn’t fight. I just froze.”
Her experience is detailed in the upcoming documentary Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields. Now, she’s speaking out to help others feel less alone. “Everybody processes trauma differently. I want to be an advocate for women to speak their truth.”