Raven-Symoné is opening up about her childhood experiences and the pressures she faced as a young television star, highlighting the difficult path she took by getting breast reduction surgery at just 15 years old.
On the December 5 episode of her podcast Tea Time with Raven and Miranda, the former Disney Channel star discussed the advice she received from adults surrounding her appearance and the impact it had on her life. “Someone said I needed to do it in order to get a show,” she recalled, referring to the transformative experience of going from what she described as "a triple D all the way down to a B." With the added pressure and scrutiny of being on television, Symoné felt the need to conform to the beauty standards expected of her.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Raven-Symoné took charge of her situation. “At the same time, I was like if you’re going to take my boobs out, I want lipo. I was like one for one bro. Let’s go,” she humorously stated, illustrating her mixed feelings about the surgeries.
Reflecting on these decisions now, she expressed feelings of envy over today’s more positive body image movements. “I’m envious as f-ck, but there is this beautiful embracing of the body now,” she said, drawing attention to the societal shifts she sees compared to her younger years.
This isn’t the first time Raven has spoken about her surgeries. Last year on her and Miranda's podcast, she revealed the full extent of her experiences, noting she underwent two breast reductions and liposuction before turning 18. These early surgical procedures were heavily influenced by her father's encouragement. “My dad suggested strongly I should get my breasts reduced. He was like, ‘So you don’t feel bad, is there anything you want?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, if I get lipo, will people stop calling me fat?’ So I got a twofer. It was just a mess, just being young and the pain of it all,” she shared with emotional honesty.
Raven-Symoné also shared shocking anecdotes surrounding the impact her first surgery had on her health. “That first one I had, I actually had a seizure when I woke up from the surgery,” she recounted. “I woke up and saw everything ... and then I just started to have this dry mouth and couldn’t breathe, and they were like, ‘Oh yeah, you had a seizure.’” It's clear the experience left lasting effects on her both physically and mentally, as she explained, “The recovery was a little painful. I still have scar tissue to this day.”
Even with the surgical changes, she candidly admitted to facing continued body shaming and scrutiny online. “I still got reamed through social media because I wasn’t as skinny as everybody else, and they still called me fat. So, it’s like, you get [the surgery] done and it’s still not what everybody wanted to see,” she lamented, highlighting the often-unrealistic standards placed on women, particularly those in the public eye.
Addressing the permanent physical changes, Symoné described the scars left behind by the surgeries, which she termed "anchor scars.” She explained, “When you have a breast reduction, underneath the areola, they make a little incision, and they come down straight underneath the boob and, like, filet you from the bottom, and it looks like an anchor.” She added humorously, “Yeah, it’s different because when you gain weight, those boobs come right back no matter what.”
Now, as she looks at current beauty standards, Raven-Symoné appreciates the shift toward body positivity. The former television star feels part of this movement, encouraging both young women and men to embrace their bodies. She expressed hope for future generations, stating, “There’s this beautiful embracing of the body now.”
Raven's experiences serve as both cautionary tales and sources of empowerment, reminding us all of the importance of self-acceptance and the need to challenge toxic beauty norms. Her candidness sheds light on the complexity of beauty standards, particularly for public figures, and emphasizes the significance of embracing one's natural self amid societal pressures.
