Kerry Washington Had a ‘Toxic’ Eating Disorder
Kerry Washington is opening up about a past eating disorder. The Little Fires Everywhere star told Good Morning America‘s Robin Roberts in an interview for an upcoming 20/20 special this…

Kerry Washington attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Vanity FairKerry Washington is opening up about a past eating disorder. The Little Fires Everywhere star told Good Morning America's Robin Roberts in an interview for an upcoming 20/20 special this Sunday (September 24) about how she contemplated suicide at the height of her disorder. Washington, 46, recalled via an excerpt from her new memoir Thicker Than Water the relationship she had with food and her body during her college years at George Washington University. She said it had "become a toxic cycle of self-abuse that utilized the tools of starvation, binge eating, body obsession, and compulsive exercise."
"I could feel how the abuse was a way to really hurt myself as if I didn’t want to be here," Washington said in her interview preview shared Thursday. At the time, she was scared she didn't want to be here because she was in "so much pain." Roberts asked if she considered suicide, to which Washington responded, “Yeah," adding her behavior was "tiny little acts of trying to destroy myself." When her disorder spiraled out of control, Kerry admitted she would pray. This was her first time praying as she struggled to maintain her "perfect" image.
Kerry was getting good at being "perfect." She stated she was good at control, partying all night, drinking, smoking, and having sex, and "still show[ing] up and have good grades." The Django Unchained actress was so high-functioning she knew how to manage. However, it was the food that took her out. She developed body dysmorphia and body hatred that were beyond her control. This led the actress desperate for help from someone or something bigger than her because she didn't know how to live with the disorder and all that came with it.
Washington shared that while she is in a much better place now with her eating disorder, she still has to "check myself." The usually private Washington says she is sharing her story now "with purpose." Thicker Than Water releases on Tuesday, September 26.
Celebrities Who Opened Up About Their Skin Conditions
When it comes to our skin's appearance, many factors are out of our control. Many people are struggling with issues pertaining to their skin. For some, certain skin conditions can be hidden away or managed. But for others, there is no hiding something on your face. Even the rich and famous deal with suffering from a skin condition. Sometimes, seeing a celebrity be open and offer a positive approach to dealing with skin issues may be helpful to those who are experiencing the same issues.
Types of Common Skin Conditions
Common skin conditions include acne, contact dermatitis (rash), atopic dermatitis (also called eczema), rosacea, warts and moles, hyperpigmentation, and psoriasis. Skin disorders such as acne and eczema vary greatly in symptoms and severity. Eczema is characterized by yellow or white scaly patches that flake off. Affected areas may be itchy, greasy, or oily, and hair loss may also occur in the area with the rash. Psoriasis, however, is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes the rapid buildup of your skin cells. This buildup of cells causes scaling on your skin’s surface. Inflammation and redness around the scales are fairly common, and sometimes, these patches crack and bleed.
When it comes to the chronic skin disease rosacea, the skin goes through cycles of fading and relapse. Rosacea’s trademark symptom is small, red, pus-filled bumps on the skin that are present during flare-ups. Typically, rosacea affects only the skin on your nose, cheeks, and forehead. The cause of rosacea is still unknown, and there is no cure. Meanwhile, vitiligo is characterized by loss of pigment in the skin due to autoimmune destruction of the cells that give skin its color. These cells, called melanocytes, no longer produce skin pigment or melanin, causing areas of your skin to lose color or turn white.
Per Healthline, skin conditions can be temporary or permanent and painless or painful. Some can be life-threatening. Some skin disorders have situational causes, such as high stress, while others may be genetic.
Take a look below at which celebrities have opened up about their skin conditions and even become advocates.
Justin Bieber

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 13: Singer Justin Bieber attends Super Bowl LVI between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium on February 13, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Kerry Washington

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 01: Kerry Washington attends The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Karl Lagerfeld)
Kim Kardashian

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 26: Kim Kardashian attends the 2023 TIME100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 26, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
Tia Mowry

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Tia Mowry attends Variety's 2022 Power of Women: Los Angeles Event Presented by Lifetime on September 28, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Cynthia Nixon

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 12: Cynthia Nixon attends the 2023 Ali Forney Center A Place At The Table Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on May 12, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
Jada Pinkett Smith

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 30: Jada Pinkett Smith attends Apple Original Films' "Emancipation" Los Angeles premiere at Regency Village Theatre on November 30, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
Jonathan Van Ness

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 09: Jonathan Van Ness walks the red carpet at the Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party on February 09, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for IMDb)
Lili Reinhart

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 27: Lili Reinhart, wearing Max Mara, attends the WIF Honors: Forging Forward Gala sponsored by Max Mara, ShivHans Pictures, Lexus and STARZ at The Beverly Hilton on October 27, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for WIF (Women in Film))
Winnie Harlow

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 21: Winnie Harlow attends the Aroma360 Perfume And Body Collection Launch at Buddha Bar on June 21, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
LeAnn Rimes

AUSTIN, TEXAS - APRIL 02: LeAnn Rimes attends the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Jessica Simpson

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 19: Jessica Simpson attends the preseason NFL game between Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on August 19, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Cyndi Lauper

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 14: Cyndi Lauper attends the "Let the Canary Sing" premiere -during the 2023 Tribeca Festival at Beacon Theatre on June 14, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival)
Kendall Jenner

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 01: Kendall Jenner attends The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue )