Big Brother stars Tully and Jules have shared their respective battles with body dysmorphia and said that they pick apart their physical appearance when watching the show back.
Jules – who entered the house in the show’s fourth week as an intruder – has spoken openly about judging her own appearance while watching herself on TV.
“I’m watching myself on TV and I feel like a really bad feminist because all I can think about is the way I look,” the reality star told podcast Good Bitch.
“And it’s annoying me that I’m doing these great challenges and I’m living out my childhood dream and watching back on it, all I can see is, in my head, how much fucking botox and fillers would not go astray, and it’s really annoying me because in the time, in the moment, I’m a happy gal.
“I love living life and it’s actually frustrating me that I’m not looking back with the same fond memories whilst living it.”
Jules went on to explain that she struggles to accept herself as beautiful.
“I probably am chasing that Western beauty standard of that beautiful porcelain doll-like face and my [Māori] lineage – we’re not doll-like women. We are strong, thick and powerful,” Jules said.
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“When I read the comments, I’m looking out for that one that says that I look really masculine, I look like a drag queen and I look too old.
“Honestly, those are the three comments that I’m waiting to pop up, so clearly it’s a big insecurity of mine.”
After hearing the podcast, Jule’s co-star Tully Smyth took to Instagram to express that she had a similar experience.
“I personally loved this episode because it’s something I’ve been struggling with myself. And I had no idea I wasn’t alone,” she wrote as part of a lengthy post.
“The early morning shots where I look puffy and saggy in the face. The horrible camera angles of my double chin. The social media photos that are sent to us that I hate so much, I refuse to use.
“The shots of me in activewear where I find myself wishing the scene would just hurry up and change.
“Self-love and self-confidence is an ongoing journey.”
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