Brooke Shields is undeniably one of the most iconic actresses and models of her generation. Known worldwide for her timeless beauty and remarkable talent, she became a symbol of elegance and strength. However, behind the glamour and fame, Shields faced a series of personal challenges and emotional struggles that shaped her into the woman she is today. Now, she’s choosing to open up about her past—offering insight into the pain and unfair criticism she endured along the way.
Throughout her career, Shields rose to fame as a supermodel and actress. With her striking looks and undeniable charisma, she quickly made a name for herself on magazine covers and movie screens alike. But for all her public success, Shields privately battled the harsh words and unrealistic expectations that often accompany life in the spotlight. Some of the most hurtful criticism, she admits, came from her own mother, Teri, who also served as her manager from a young age.
Shields has spoken openly about the emotionally damaging relationship she had with her mother. She remembers painful moments when her mother, under the influence of alcohol, would insult her body. “My mother would get drunk and say, ‘Why don’t you move your fat ass?’ So, I’ve always believed I had a fat ass,” Shields shared. These early experiences of body-shaming shaped the way she saw herself, leaving deep emotional scars that took years to heal.
Teri Shields passed away in 2012 after struggling with alcoholism for most of her life, but the impact of her words lingered long after. It wasn’t until years later that Brooke began to reclaim her self-worth and see herself through a kinder lens. Much of that healing, she says, was due to the support of her husband of 17 years, screenwriter Chris Henchy. Henchy helped Shields embrace her body and femininity in a way no one had before. “I would walk backwards out of rooms, and he’d say: ‘No, I want to grab onto you,’” she said. “He really celebrated my womanliness and my body. And I needed a man to celebrate me.”
Before her marriage to Henchy, Shields had been married to tennis star Andre Agassi from 1997 to 1999. Her rise in Hollywood began in her teenage years, but it was a 1980 Calvin Klein jeans campaign shot by the legendary Richard Avedon that catapulted her to icon status. Despite being hailed as a beauty, Shields constantly felt the pressure of public scrutiny. “I modeled swimwear when I was 15, and even then I didn’t think I had a swimsuit body,” she said.
She went on to explain that while she was considered a “cover girl,” she never felt like a true supermodel. “I was ‘neck up’—the face, the eyebrows—and I was always described as ‘athletic’; ‘not rail-thin’; ‘not a runway model.’ Those messages, they seep into your consciousness,” she explained. Even someone as admired as Shields struggled with self-image and internalized the opinions of others.
Years later, she returned to modeling with another swimsuit campaign and once again collaborated with Calvin Klein. This time, she was determined to feel her best and commit to the role fully. “I knew that if I didn’t look my best, I’d be embarrassed and mad at myself. I stopped drinking beer and wine, and I worked out three times a week. I was the best version of myself,” she recalled, then added with a touch of humor, “I was also hungry.”
What’s truly eye-opening is how even a woman so widely regarded as beautiful could still face intense insecurity. While the world celebrated her looks, her own mother and others around her had made her feel unworthy. Thankfully, her husband’s unwavering support helped her embrace her body and value herself for who she truly is.
More recently, Shields made a powerful revelation about a traumatic experience she endured over 30 years ago. In an interview with People, she shared that she was sexually assaulted by a Hollywood executive shortly after graduating from Princeton University. At the time, she blamed herself for what happened. “I’m more angry now than I was able to be then. If you’re afraid, you’re rightfully so. They are scary situations. They don’t have to be violent to be scary,” she explained.
This marked the first time Shields publicly shared her story of sexual assault, noting that back then, “People weren’t believing those stories. I thought I would never work again.” Her story, unfortunately, is not unique in Hollywood, and it sheds light on the toxic power dynamics that many women have faced.
The assault, which took place after she was invited to dinner by the unnamed executive, left her feeling ashamed and responsible. After their meal, he persuaded her to accompany him to his hotel room under the pretense of calling a cab. Once inside, he assaulted her. “I didn’t fight,” she admitted. “I just froze.”
In the aftermath, she was consumed with guilt. “I kept saying, ‘I shouldn’t have done that. Why did I go up with him? I shouldn’t have had that drink at dinner.’” At the time, the only person she confided in was Gavin de Becker, a friend and former security consultant. Now, after decades of silence, she’s sharing her story in hopes of empowering others. “Everybody processes their own trauma on a different timeline. I want to be an advocate for women to be able to speak their truth,” she said.
Her harrowing experience is explored in depth in the upcoming two-part documentary Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields. Reflecting on her journey, she said, “Doing the documentary, you see it all together, and it’s a miracle that I survived.”
Despite all the pain, pressure, and trauma she’s faced, Brooke Shields remains a beacon of resilience. Her honesty, courage, and continued presence in the industry are a testament to her strength. She’s not just a beauty icon—she’s a survivor. Share her story so others can be reminded of the strength that lies in vulnerability and the importance of supporting one another. Brooke Shields has faced more than her fair share of adversity, and yet she continues to thrive. We send her all our best wishes.
