Valerie Bertinelli made a bold statement about her body in a recent Instagram post.
The beloved TV personality – who has long been a vocal advocate for body positivity – shared a photo of herself in a pink swimsuit.
Her fans flooded the comments section, writing all sorts of messages for the actress… It’s safe to say she caused quite the stir! Keep reading to see the photos.
Valerie Bertinelli is a body positivity advocate
Just months ago, 63-year-old Bertinelli was reflecting on a time when diet fads were all the rage and being skinny, not necessarily healthy, was the ultimate goal.
While clearing out her closet, the Food Network star recently discovered the outfit she wore for her Jenny Craig “before photo.”
The One Day at a Time actress put on what she dubbed her “fat clothes” for the first time since the promotional shoot and spoke candidly about self-worth.
While dressed in a pink button-up and jeans, Bertinelli reflected on all the emotional and mental work she put in from “years of pretending everything was OK when it wasn’t.”
“Health is not a body size. Health is not the number you see on the scale. Your worth as a human being isn’t dictated by your body. I thought I was fat the last time I wore these clothes,” she said in her video shared on Instagram.
“I’ve never felt more beautiful, more at peace, more mentally and emotionally stable than I do today, and I’m wearing my ‘fat clothes,’” she continued. “That’s f***ed up.”
Bertinelli expanded on her thoughts in her caption, explaining the “emotional and mental purging” she’s been doing over the past year to get rid of things “that no longer bring me joy.”
Although she questioned why she kept the outfit, Bertinelli said she was glad she still had it so she could see the progress she’s made over the past several years.
“I continue to work on not suppressing or numbing my feelings with food or alcohol and here I am. I am enough,” she wrote. “Our bodies do not define who we are as human being’s. A number on the scale does not define how much love your heart can hold. 🩷Please love yourself, every single part of you. YOU ARE ENOUGH 🤍✌🏻”
“Overweight” swimsuit photos
Bertinelli’s latest post is just another instance of body positivity. Taking to Instagram, the actress posted a throwback image of herself in a pink bikini from 2014.
In the caption, she acknowledged her weight and height, writing: “This is a 150lb body on a 5’4 frame. […] This is considered overweight.” Naturally, her post prompted an outpouring of support and admiration from her followers.
“Aging strong not skinny is where it’s at!” someone wrote.
Another added: “Oh my goodness,” while a further person commented: “I am beyond speechless.”
Someone else chimed in with: “You look better than a model.”
Reflecting on her journey, Bertinelli shared that she had a transformative moment years ago when she finally realized she was doing herself a disservice by constantly trying to shed the same 10 pounds.
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