New from Allure: Allure Perspectives

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

When I first heard about Cascali, I didn't even know how to say it. After learning more about it, I'm glad I spoke to my doctor.

SPEAKER_2 (0:07)

Christine is a real patient compensated for her time. Visit cascali.com and ask your doctor if Cascali ribocyclic is right for you.

Jessica Cruel (0:18)

It's Jessica Cruel, Editor-in-Chief of Allure, and host of the Perspectives podcast. While you've been doing the series all about breasts, how we see them, treat them, change them, it's become clear to me that these conversations are also fundamentally about body image. Actor Olivia Munn and sex educator Erica Hart saw their bodies differently after breast cancer treatment. And our experts in fashion and in surgery have detailed how integral breasts are to overall body shape and proportion. But this episode, it's the missing link between our breasts and how we see ourselves and our bodies. And we explore all of it so thoughtfully in my conversation today with Raven-Symoné.

Raven's been on camera since she was a baby. She's grown up with all eyes on her, and while she has paved the way for so many people with her work, she's also had to contend with the pressures that come from close scrutiny and the expectation to fit a certain mold. She's been quiet about this for a long time, but not anymore. Yes, we talk about breasts in today's episode, but it's about so much more.

It's also about how Raven was able to separate her identity from her characters. She tells us what it was like to finally start shopping in the men's section at stores when she let go of the hyperfeminine expectations. She came out in a tweet, we talk about that. And we talk about how she's reframing her thoughts around weight completely. This is Perspectives.

Raven-Symoné, I'm so excited to have you here on Perspectives podcast today. Thank you for being here.

Raven-Symoné (1:57)

Thank you for having me. It's a pleasure. I'm excited.

Jessica Cruel (2:00)

So first of all, I want you to know we're cousins. And I just say that because we grew up together. I have watched you literally from the Cosby show, to the Cheetah Girls, to Sister Act and Beyond. And we're around the same age. So that's why I have claimed us as cousins. I'm also from Georgia.

Raven-Symoné (2:17)

So I love a cousin's claim. Listen, listen, you never know.

Jessica Cruel (2:22)

I've seen a lot of those in your career.

Raven-Symoné (2:23)

And I've claimed a lot of people as cousins, just because we're so close in thought processes and growing up. So yeah, I believe in cousin.

Jessica Cruel (2:32)

Yeah, I promise you, I'm not gonna be the cousin that asks you for money.

Raven-Symoné (2:35)

It's okay, it's okay. I'll say no. I have no problem with that.

Jessica Cruel (2:41)

So let's start at the very beginning. How did you start acting and how old were you?

Raven-Symoné (2:47)

I was 16 months old when I started in the entertainment industry as a model and in commercials.

You'd have to ask my deceased father how that started other than my own mental stories. And then it just snowballed from there.

Jessica Cruel (3:03)

You've described yourself kind of as a workhorse. And so do you feel that you had an opportunity to, obviously, you're very professional, you grew up in the industry, but do you feel that you also had the opportunity to be a kid in a teenager during your early time and your early career?

Raven-Symoné (3:23)

I love when people ask me that because my counter question is, what is being a kid in a teenager, just in age or in thought process?

Jessica Cruel (3:29)

In thought process. For me, I think it's in thought process, right? Because even myself, look, I'm an eldest daughter. You know.

I'm just going to leave that there because those who know know.

Raven-Symoné (3:42)

I am an elder daughter.

Jessica Cruel (3:44)

Exactly. And so I think so much about when people say you grew up so fast. Do you feel that you had to grow up fast?

Raven-Symoné (3:54)

Yeah, I did because of the industry that I was in. But I think that a lot of kids in today's world are growing up fast. And what is being a kid anymore, there's responsibilities and certain cultures don't get to grow up like other cultures. So they have to grow up fast as well. So I personally at 40 am re-evaluating what it means. So did you have a childhood? Did you have this? I'm re-evaluating. You know what I mean? Like my typical answer would be like, yeah, of course. Of course I did. Like I went to public school and I did all this. No, I didn't go to prom. No, I didn't get detention, even though I probably should have a couple of cases. And I got Fs and I had to go to summer school. So if you're saying like that, sure.