#NoBadAngles with Hanes.

This post is sponsored by Hanes. All opinions are my own.

Photos by Joe Loper.

Can we talk? Like, really talk? I’ve had something on my mind lately that I’ve talked with close friends about offline, but have rarely scratched the surface with online. Let’s talk about confidence and a brand that reminds me to embrace all of my angles (hint: Hanes).

I make my living by being on-camera, so most people describe me as confident when they first meet me. I mean, I post photos and videos of myself online and on social media every day, right? I get it. I understand the perception. As an actor, host and content creator, my world revolves around what you see in front of a screen and being able to portray a certain character, persona or lifestyle. So, there’s quite a bit you can learn about me just by scrolling through my Instagram feed. You would know I love color, can talk about Harry Potter for days (#teamgryffindor), fall head-over-heels for cute dogs, and that I have an unhealthy obsession with pizza among many other things.

That being said, there is also so much that you don’t know about me. That we don’t know about each other. And I think we can both understand why. There can be a lot of pressure to look a certain way, talk a certain way and overall just be a certain way that we don’t open up about nearly enough. The standards for beauty are impossibly high and we are always comparing our lives to that of someone we don’t know or someone who we only partially know. We want to put out the best photos, the best videos and the best everything else under the sun. But, that’s not always real life. The truth is that real life is messy and imperfect - full of ups and downs, the good and the bad. That’s why I’m partnering with Hanes on their #NoBadAngles campaign this year. I want to be more open and honest and to talk about the things that make us who we are.

So, what makes me feel the most confident everyday? Some of my favorites include a great pair of bright sweats (anyone else love hot pink as much as I do?!), super soft hi-cut panties or the comfiest t-shirt bra - all from Hanes, not tugging and pulling when I’m wearing something that doesn’t fit quite right and learning to love all my angles and my body just the way that it is. It’s waking up and doing the best you can with what you’ve got right in front of you. It’s being kind to yourself. It’s being your own cheerleader. It’s not having to compromise. It’s wearing a great piece that feels both stylish and comfortable - especially if you didn’t have to pay an arm and a leg for it. It’s reaching for things that light you up and that make you feel like you can do anything - whether it’s the perfect hot pink shade of lipstick, a great leather jacket, or a light purple bra from Hanes.

It’s pretty common for me to walk into an audition room or a casting and be surrounded by a dozen women who look just like me except taller and thinner or shorter and curvier or some variation. Let’s just say that it’s not exactly the most confidence-boosting way to start a morning. But, it is real life. And acknowledging that you can be different and still enough has been one of the most life-changing ways for me to look at the world. Someone on set once told me, “You can be both a work-in-progress and a masterpiece at the same time” and that has stuck with me for years. It was such a powerful, mind-blowing revelation. So, here is me reminding you that you are enough. That you are beautiful. That you matter. Not the you that hopes to lose ten pounds or the you that’s all dolled up and on the hunt for the perfect ‘gram. But you, right as you are in this moment. So, whether you’re dancing in your underwear or running around in your sweats today, here are a few reminders for you: I’ve got your back, keep going and nice butt.