Jessica Alba: ‘I felt objectified when I started my acting career’

 

It’s a problem that we're sure many young actresses encounter, but Jessica Alba has been brave enough to admit that she did feel like she was objectified when she started out in her acting career. 

The mother of two has revealed that she was marketed in a sexy way when she landed the lead role in her breakout TV show Dark Angel, 

“I had a show that premiered when I was 19. And right away, everyone formed a strong opinion about me because of the way I was marketed,” the 31-year-old star has told Marie Claire. “I was supposed to be sexy, this tough action girl. That's what people expected.

“I felt like I was being objectified, and it made me uncomfortable,” she continues. “I wanted to be chic and elegant!”

Jess – who is mum to daughters Honor, 4, and Haven, 9 months and is married to Cash Warren – says she has learned to tone down her sexy image, and that she doesn’t dress to impress men,

“Now that I'm older, I've learned how to own it, but I'm still not very overt. There are some women who dress for men. I dress for myself. It took me some time to get here. Being a mum and feeling grown-up have helped.”

In fact, as a busy Hollywood mum, Jess says that her day-to-day fashion choices are now based on what’s practical,

“I’m not going to wear stilettos, for example - even kitten heels are kind of pushing - it during the day. I wear boots, ballet flats and sneakers, but mostly boots. They're stable, easy to wear.”