What I've noticed is that almost no one who was a big star in high school is also big star later in life. For us overlooked kids, it's so wonderfully fair.
I get so worried about girls with body image stuff And I feel like I have been able to have a fun career and be an on-camera talent and be someone who has boyfriends and love interests and wears nice clothes and those kinds of things without having to be an emaciated stick. And it is possible to do it. In life, you don't have to be that way and you can have a great life, a fun life, and a fulfilling love life.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance and the idea that one can have a fulfilling life without conforming to societal beauty standards.
Mindy Kaling's quote highlights her experiences with body image and the pressures that girls face regarding looks. She expresses that despite the industry's beauty standards that often prioritize extreme thinness, it is entirely possible to lead a joyful and successful life, rich with love and experiences, while embracing one's natural self. This promotes a message of body positivity and encourages individuals to value themselves beyond superficial appearances.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about body image during a panel on women's empowerment.
More from Mindy Kaling
All quotes →Anyone who's lost someone to cancer will say this, that you have to struggle to try to remember the person before the diagnosis happened, because they really do change - as anyone would change.
I always knew I wanted kids, but when my mom passed away I was like, 'I want a bunch of kids. I want three kids or four kids, and I want to have that relationship again.' I can't bring my mom back, but I can have children.
I have a thick skin, which comes from being a not-really-skinny, dark-skinned Indian woman. I haven’t fit in every place, and so I’m kind of used to resistance.
Here's my feeling: For everyone, men and women, it's important to be a feminist. It's important to have female characters. It's wonderful for women to mentor other women, but it's just as important for women to mentor men and vice-versa. In my line of work, having Greg Daniels be such a great mentor to me is fantastic. Finding a writer's assistant, be it a man or a woman, and encouraging them to think with a feminist perspective, is key.
I’ve worked in television for 10 years straight. If I were a man, it wouldn’t be considered strange [to have confidence] at all.
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