Allison Williams, the star of "Girls" and "Get Out," has been the subject of much discussion regarding her weight and body image since she first appeared on the scene in 2010. The actress has addressed these assumptions and opened up about her journey to self-acceptance.
The "Mad Men" Era and College Weight
Williams first gained attention with her 2010 revamp of the "Mad Men" theme song. She recalls that during this time, she was graduating from college and at what she calls her "college-weight."
"When I did the 'Mad Men' thing, I was graduating from college -- you're college-weight," she told Allure magazine. This was also the time when she filmed the pilot for "Girls" and the first season of the show. As a result, people had a certain image of her body in their minds.
Weight Loss Assumptions and Body Image
As Williams' career progressed, people began to comment on her so-called transformation and assumed she had lost weight.
However, Williams clarified, "This is just the way my body is very naturally." She expressed her frustration with the assumptions people make about her eating habits, saying, "It’s a little bit stressful to know that there are a lot of people walking around who think I'm constantly just shaking and depriving myself."
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Embracing Imperfection and Self-Acceptance
In a 2013 interview with Town & Country, Williams revealed that she had abandoned the pursuit of perfection. She realized that the people she respected were not perfectionists, and she found that much more appealing.
"Something that's been lovely about the last couple of years is that I've finally abandoned the pursuit of perfection, which I think I was pretty stubbornly holding on to, just always trying to be the best at everything I did. I grew up enough to realize that the people I respect aren't perfectionists. And I was like, 'Oh, that's so much more perfect.'"
Marnie Michaels: Imperfect Perfectionist
Williams is known for her role as Marnie Michaels in the HBO series "Girls." Marnie has been described as "responsible and serious" by HBO. Williams acknowledges that she and her character share a desire to have everything in order.
"[We] share that push and pull between accepting the way you're wired, that you want your ducks in a row," she says. "And that is desperately uncool when you're in high school and college and in your early 20s. It's supposed to be this time where everyone's sort of living on the edge of uncertainty and fine with it."
More than Meets the Eye
Williams is not just an actress; she is also involved in various philanthropic endeavors. She is committed to her "extracurricular passions," which include touring prisons while researching a documentary series on the American education system and working with Horizons National, an organization that provides academic-enrichment programs to low-income students.
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Allison Williams's Diet and Fitness
While Williams hasn't explicitly shared detailed "secrets" about her diet or fitness routine, there are some insights that can be gathered from various interviews and articles:
Pilates
Allison Williams is known to be a fan of Pilates. She mentions going to Pilates classes on non-workdays.
Balanced Diet
In an interview, she shared that she ordered a watermelon salad and a kale salad from Cafeteria, following her mom's recommendation.
Occasional Indulgences
Despite maintaining a healthy lifestyle, Williams doesn't deprive herself of treats. She admits to having a doughnut every morning.
Importance of Mental Wellbeing
Williams emphasizes the importance of mental wellbeing and staying busy with meaningful activities to avoid anxiety.
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A Day in the Life
In a 24-hour diary for Harper's Bazaar, Williams shared details of a typical day, including:
- Working out in Lululemon exercise thongs and Spanx exercise pants
- Washing her retainer and applying Lancer vitamin C cream and Lancer sunscreen
- Chatting with her mom about lunch
- Using Kitchensurfing to have someone cook dinner for her
- Journaling at night
Overcoming Body Image Issues
Williams has been open about her past struggles with body image. She shared that she used to be self-conscious about her stomach and dreaded bikini season. However, she has since learned to love her body and appreciate its strength.
"For my whole life until 2 years ago, I was super self-conscious about my stomach. I dreaded bikini season. I kept it covered. Boyfriends weren't allowed to touch it. No amount of crunches seemed to strengthen it. I have never felt stronger, healthier, more focused, or more feminine. Now, I love my stomach because it keeps me grounded to my core. And it's still the same stomach! Here's to proving yourself wrong."
The Most Offensive Comment
Williams recalls the most offensive thing anyone has ever said to her. In high school, a boy she had a crush on told her, "You've lost your aura" after she cut off her hair.
"I cut off my hair twice. It was in high school, and a boy that I had a crush on said, 'You've lost your aura.' It was, to this day, the most offensive thing anyone's ever said to me."