Eva Longoria says she feels LUCKY not to have grown up with the ‘pressures of social media’ or comparing herself to ‘unattainable images’ online

Eva Longoria said she felt “lucky” not to have grown up with social media, which has been proven to contribute to negative body image for both men and women.

Amid debates about how social media use has become a public health crisis, especially for adolescents, the Desperate Housewives star, 48, sees not having access to apps, such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, as a boon to her self-esteem .

“For me, I was lucky that I didn’t grow up in an age of social media. “I never had that relationship with beauty that I think a lot of young girls grow up with, especially today, with the pressure of it and the comparison and trying to keep up with these often unattainable images,” the mother of one told People. in a new interview.

Instead, the Golden Globe winner looked up to her “family of independent, strong women” as role models.

“My mother raised four girls, one child with special needs, had a full-time job, had dinner on the table at 6 o’clock every day, was at every band practice, cheerleading practice, everything,” Longoria raved. “And so for me it’s like, ‘Wow.’ I always think, ‘I’m not doing enough in my life!'”

Before becoming one of the most successful actresses in Hollywood, the performer worked part-time at a Wendy’s restaurant for three years to earn money for her quinceañera.

She also earned her Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology from Texas A&M University-Kingsville before winning the title of Miss Corpus Christi USA.

After graduating, Longoria moved to Los Angeles and began auditioning for roles while working as a headhunter for four years.

In 1999, she landed her first TV appearance on Beverly Hills, 90210, before appearing on soap operas such as General Hospital and The Young and the Restless.

Four years later, she was cast as Gabrielle Solis in Desperate Housewives, making her a household name across the country.

“I find it funny when people say I’m an overnight sensation because I’ve been working on it for ten years,” she told Maxim at the time.

In October, the L’Oréal Paris ambassador announced Cosmopolitan that she really ‘thinks beauty comes from within.’

Lucky: Amid debates about how social media use has become a public health crisis, especially for adolescents, the Desperate Housewives star, 48, sees not having access to apps, like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, as a boon for her self-esteem (photo in 1997)

“For me, I was lucky that I didn’t grow up in an age of social media. “I’ve never had that relationship with beauty that I think a lot of young girls grow up with, especially today, with the pressure of it and the comparison and trying to keep up with these often unattainable images,” the mother of one told People. in a new interview; seen in 2023

Family-oriented: Instead, the Golden Globe winner looked up to her “family of independent, strong women” as role models; pictured in 2023

“I don’t think there’s anything more beautiful than when a confident, smart, confident woman walks into the room,” the star said. “My mother taught me that, so even though I grew up as the ugly duckling of my family, I didn’t have a bad relationship with beauty.”

She continued, “What it has taught me is that you shouldn’t depend on it. I knew I’d be the smart one, I knew I’d be the funny one, so even though I’m on the Most Beautiful List… it doesn’t just define me.”

As for her beauty tips, Longoria said she “always” has mascara in her bag because “it just brightens up her ‘whole face.’

After becoming a mother, she has refrained from wearing red lipstick because she “constantly kisses and cuddles” her son and doesn’t want to “get it over him.”

‘My beauty routine is definitely more efficient because I have a son. My beauty and makeup routine can’t last long, I have to get on with my day,” she explained.

As for who she considers her “biggest beauty icons,” the actress said she looks up to “Sophia Loren and Brigitte Bardot as beauty references” and Salma Hayek.

Longoria has been happily married to José Bastón since 2016. The couple shares a five-year-old son named Santiago Enrique, who was born on June 19, 2018.