Bonnie Sveen, who plays Ricky Sharpe in Home and Away has spoken out about how the TV industry can cause women to feel pressure to lose weight.
In this week’s issue of New Idea magazine, Bonnie said: “I think it’s well established in the industry that slimmer is better. Peers might suggest that, people you work with might suggest that”.
The 25-year-old also said that while she has witnessed other actresses go to great lengths to lose weight, including the use of appetite suppressants, she would never go that far.
“I’ve tried different things but I’ve never been extreme about it,” Bonnie insisted. “I’m lucky and wise enough to know it’s about being happy”.
After winning a Logie award for Most Popular New Talent on Australia TV last month, Bonnie gave a passionate acceptance speech.
Bonnie pictured with her Logie award
“I think it says something really progressive about Australia and about the commercial industry that viewers have so warmly embraced such a natural and healthy young woman on their screens”, Bonnie said when accepting her award.
Speaking to Mail Online, the star elaborated on her comments at the awards ceremony. “I think it is important to differentiate storytellers from models and that people at home are able to turn on the television and see someone with an achievable look or something that is at least more of a mirror of themselves,” Bonnie said.
“I think it does a lot of good to the attitudes of young women to see someone so comfortable in themselves and play such a wonderful fun role and get to be the love interest of such a big tele icon”.
