Danielle Brooks, known for her roles in "Orange Is The New Black," "The Color Purple," "A Minecraft Movie," and "Peacemaker," has consistently challenged societal norms and expectations. She is an actress who continues to inspire with her talent, openness, and advocacy for body positivity. Her journey is one of self-acceptance, resilience, and a commitment to personal growth.
Speaking Out Against Health-Shaming
Danielle Brooks is speaking out to end the vicious cycle of judgment placed on curvy women who choose to embark on a healthier lifestyle. This comes days after singer Lizzo was accused of promoting the “diet culture” because of her personal choice to go on a 10-day smoothie and juice detox.
Rallying in support of women’s right to self-care and self-awareness, the Orange Is The New Black actress spoke out about her own health journey after giving birth to her first child.
Brooks' story is a powerful reminder that health journeys are personal and multifaceted. She is eager to remove health-shaming from the equation.
Post-Pregnancy Reflections and Self-Acceptance
After giving birth to her first child in November 2019, Danielle Brooks experienced the pressures and expectations that many women face regarding postpartum weight loss. She admitted to followers on Instagram this week that she has been less confident because shedding the weight after giving birth didn’t go as planned. “As someone who coined the phrase #voiceofthecurves I’ve muted my voice for a few months now out of shame. I felt shameful of gaining weight,” she wrote alongside a presumably throwback picture of her posing in the nude. “Even though I brought a whole human into the world, I still felt shameful because I wasn’t able to maintain my normal body weight post- pregnancy. And a year later i have only lost roughly 20lbs of a 60lb weight gain. I was quiet in hopes to post that snatch back photo like so many celebrities miraculously do. Love MadameNoire? Get more! We care about your data.
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Brooks, who has always been open about her love for her body and proudly crowned herself “the voice of the curves,” confessed to feeling ashamed after gaining weight during her pregnancy. She had hoped to quickly "snap back" to her pre-pregnancy body, as many celebrities seemingly do. However, she realized that her story was different, and she chose to share her journey authentically.
She explained, “I was quiet in hopes to post that snatch back photo like so many celebrities miraculously do. But that’s not my story. Just like Lizzo, and so many other ‘fat’ girls we should be allowed to make healthy choices publicly without being made to feel like frauds for trying to be healthy. I feel it’s important to share the journey, as a reminder that we are not alone, we ain’t always got it together, and that we are ALL works in progress.”
Embracing a Healthier Lifestyle for the Right Reasons
Danielle Brooks made a conscious decision to prioritize her health and well-being. She embarked on a journey that included various diets, cleanses, and healthy choices. Her motivation stemmed from self-love and a desire to feel strong and sexy while preventing potential health issues.
“So I’m sharing. I’m doing all kinds of diets, cleanses, making all kinds [of] healthy choices. Not because I don’t love myself now, but because I DO love myself, my body and my mind. [Because] I want to continue to feel strong and sexy without catching ‘the sugars’ or any other disease. It’s okay showing the in between of growth. You ain’t always gotta have it all the way together. Just speaking from the heart.”
Brooks emphasized that it's acceptable to show the "in between of growth" and that one doesn't always have to have it all together. Her message resonated with many, particularly women who feel pressured to conform to unrealistic beauty standards.
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Training for an Obstacle Course Race
Brooks' commitment to her health extended beyond diets and cleanses. She partnered with her personal trainer, Morit, to prepare for an obstacle course race. The goal was to get in shape for the race, rather than solely focusing on weight loss.
Morit and Danielle set a goal to get in shape for the race and not for the troublesome 20 lb weight loss. As we enter the new year, why not consider adding an obstacle course to your personal fitness bucket list? But what exactly did Brooks’ training look like? We did a lot of strength based circuit training mixed with cardio. For example: Row for 250 meters, 15 kettlebell goblet squats, 15 kettlebell swings, 15 TRX rows, 15 sandbag slams, 20 alternating shoulder taps, rest and then back to the beginning. We talked a lot about what the race was going to look like, how it would be set up, and what she should expect from the obstacles. We did exercises that are as closely related to the obstacles as possible, so that Danielle knew where she would be going race day. Danielle is just like everyone else - we are get intimidated by things that we don’t know, especially physical activity. She had her doubts about being able to complete it, but I never did. I knew that she was training hard, and was going to give it her all. Everyone is human, I still to this day get nervous about any competitions or races I partake in, and I’ve done over 10 different Spartan Races and many other competitions. I was there to reassure her that we would take it one step at a time and I promised we would make it through. I was so excited to watch her finish strong and be so proud of herself at the finish line! We all can do anything we set our minds to, but we just have to put in the work.
Their training regimen involved a combination of strength-based circuit training and cardio exercises. They also focused on exercises that mimicked the obstacles in the race to prepare Danielle both physically and mentally.
Morit recognized Danielle's initial apprehension and doubts about completing the race. He provided reassurance and support, reminding her that they would take it one step at a time. Ultimately, Danielle finished the race strong, feeling proud of her accomplishment.
Conquering the DC Universe in "Peacemaker"
In addition to her commitment to health and fitness, Danielle Brooks has continued to excel in her acting career. She joined the DC Universe in Season 2 of HBO Max’s “Peacemaker,” where she plays Leota Adebayo, a supportive and optimistic member of the team.
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Fresh off shepherding a brand new vision for the DCU with David Corenswet’s guileless take on “Superman,” James Gunn has devised this season of “Peacemaker,” premiering Aug. 21, as a way to bridge what’s come before with what’s ahead. If there’s a theme to the latest adventure of this goofy, earnest and foul-mouthed superhero it’s that there is no running away from one’s choices - for better and for worse.
The titular antihero-turned-superhero is joined on his journey by Leota Adebayo (Brooks), as perfect a hype friend as Cena’s Peacemaker could have dreamed of finding. Other famed metahumans may make fun of his disco ball of a helmet and he may struggle with how best to turn his reputation around, but Adebayo is firm in her belief in the goodness of her often-bumbling muscled friend.
Initially, Brooks felt daunted by the project, especially considering she had just given birth and gained weight. However, she saw it as an opportunity to showcase a unique character at the center of a superhero show.
“When I came across Adebayo, I just had my daughter, and we were in a pandemic,” she says. “I had just gained like 60 pounds from my pregnancy. And then I get a call from James Gunn saying, ‘Hey, you want to be in this action TV show?’ And I’m like, ‘What? I’m in the worst shape of my life. “I thought it was an opportunity to put someone unique at the center of a ‘superhero’ show.”
Adebayo's journey in "Peacemaker" mirrors Brooks' own. The character initially struggles with insecurity and finding her footing. However, she eventually discovers her strength and becomes a grounding presence for the team.
“When you first meet Adebayo in Season 1, she’s so flustered,” Brooks explains. “She’s so all over the place. She can’t find her footing for anything. She’s stumbling over her words. She won’t even shoot anyone.”
Danielle Brooks on Leota Adebayo’s optimism: “That has become her superpower, helping ground this group and saying, ‘Hey, we can do this!’” (Jessica Miglio / HBO Max)
Brooks embraced the challenge of playing Adebayo, allowing her to bring her own experiences and vulnerabilities to the role. She found a supportive environment within the cast and crew, which helped her blossom and deliver a memorable performance.
Gunn says it’s Adebayo’s arc that’ll blow viewers away in this multiverse-focused second season. “This whole cast is capable of so much more depth than I gave them first season,” he says. “And Danielle’s work in the Season 2 finale is some of the best acting work I’ve ever been a part of.”
Reflecting on Success and Overcoming Setbacks
Danielle Brooks' career has been marked by both triumphs and challenges. She received an Oscar nomination for “The Color Purple” in 2024 - her performance as Sofia also earned her a Grammy for best musical theater album - but Brooks has arguably had an even better 2025. So far this year, she has starred in the nearly billion-dollar-grossing blockbuster hit “A Minecraft Movie” and voiced a villainous snow leopard in “The Bad Guys 2.”
Despite her success, Brooks has also experienced moments of disappointment and self-doubt. She shared a video on social media reflecting on a time when she missed out on a Tony nomination for her work on "The Piano Lesson." She used that experience to encourage others to persevere and continue creating good work, regardless of external validation.
“That was a really hard time,” she admits. “And it wasn’t only because I didn’t get Tony nominated. That stung, but it wasn’t the only reason. It was a point in my life that I was like, ‘Why am I doing this?’ I was starting to not be happy in the thing that I love so much. And if I feel that way, I don’t know if it’s worth it, you know?”
Brooks emphasized the importance of supporting artists during both their successes and setbacks. She wanted to remind those who felt like they were "sinking in the mud" that they were still incredible and deserving of the world.
“But what about when you are not there? When you’re just feeling like you’re sinking in the mud and you’re reaching out, and nobody’s there to hold your hand?” she adds. “That’s what I wanted for the people that weren’t nominated that day: to know that there is a hand on the other side to shake and say, ‘You still are incredible. You still deserve the world.’”
Embracing Diverse Opportunities and Touching Lives
Danielle Brooks' career choices reflect her desire to explore diverse opportunities and connect with different audiences. In addition to her acting roles, she has also ventured into hosting, with her Netflix renovation show, "Instant Dream Home."
While her role in “Minecraft” may still be top of mind for most people, the excitement of seeing Brooks on a random morning at a Beverly Hills hotel had more to do with an unlikely project of hers: Netflix’s renovation show, “Instant Dream Home.”
Brooks embraces the opportunity to touch the lives of people from all walks of life. She believes that shaping her career in a way that allows her to connect with diverse audiences is the most powerful thing she can do.
“Life’s too short,” she says. “I want to know all of the gifts that have been given to me. I’ve always wanted to shape my career that way where you just touch everybody, just different people who have different walks of life than you. That is the most powerful thing you could ever do.”