Goldie Hawn on How Young Women Can Succeed

CF Blog | May 23

"It's not that I didn't want to be a star; it was that I never perceived myself as being a star. It was a dream so far beyond the reach of reality to me," Goldie Hawn once said. Still, she managed to work her way to stardom and sustain a career in both acting and producing over decades. So when her daughter, actress Kate Hudson recently sat down to interview Hawn for Interview magazine, Goldie had many insights to share.

While promoting Hawn's comeback in the mother-daughter action comedy Snatched along Amy Schumer after a fifteen-year hiatus from acting in film, Hudson asked her mom what advice she would give to young actresses or young women in general. In turn, Hawn expressed her firm belief in developing one's skill set. She explained:

"I believe you have to start with a craft; you don't just start with a dream. You've got to put a lot of work in. If you want to pursue acting, then you go to acting class. If you want to be a dancer, then you learn to dance, which is what I did…. When you're young, you start looking at what you want to do—not just who you want to be, but also what you want to do. And I think the tenacity to say, 'I'm going to perfect that,' is the beginning of a work ethic. It's the beginning of a talent. I would say, 'Perfect what you do well. Branch out and learn how to do other things. Dreams sometimes don't work out. But what will carry you through your life is the authenticity of who you are. Start with learning how to hammer a nail into a piece of wood. And be really good at it. Learn what it is to sweat. Learn what it is to fail. Learn how to take rejection. Don't personalize it.' I always believed that I could become a dance teacher. I had a realistic dream."

Goldie started dancing as a child and became a professional dancer as a young woman. But she's described having "paid her dues" when at one point she became a go-go dancer in New York City dancing in a cage. One night, she noticed her reflection in the mirror, "And I saw this girl selling her heart out to nobody... Nobody cared," she said. Still, while not setting lofty goals, she always managed to keep moving forward.

Goldie relocated to Hollywood and recalls the trepidation she felt rather than the "joy and excitement" that everyone around her seemed to be feeling. Even when she was picked out of a chorus line to be cast in a TV series, her anxiety was enough for her to seek counsel from a psychologist. Of this decision she says, "And it was the greatest move I ever made. Because, at an early age, in order to reduce your sense of imbalance, you have to learn more about yourself." Among the insights she learned in therapy was to prioritize the way she regarded herself over how other people perceived her.

Before-and-After Photo Encourages Others to Embrace Their Bodies

CF Blog | May 22

We're all used to the conventional before-and-after body image photographs depicting a heavier version of a person for the before and a slimmed-down version representing the after. Well, Body-Image Activist, Taryn Brumfitt has a different take on such comparison photos. In 2013, the Australian mother posted shots of her physique to Facebook, but notably in the reverse order. Her personal message was clear: she was choosing to appreciate and embrace body instead of loathing it. She was not only heavier in the after photo; indeed, she was happier. The pictures ended up being seen by over 100 million people across the globe, and Taryn's story continues to inspire multitudes as well as stir up controversy.

Taryn is open about her struggles with accepting her body particularly after she'd had three children. "I was going to have a tummy tuck and breast augmentation," she says. Concerned about the message these surgeries would send to her daughter, she instead opted to train for a bodybuilding competition. Brumfitt adopted a vigorous exercise program and restricted her diet. "I lost all this weight and toned up, got the 'bikini body'--the body so many women fight to have." But once she found herself strutting across the stage in front of 1,000 people, Brumfitt had a realization: "I'm standing there with my perfect body, and I'm not happy. Too much sacrifice, too much time, too much obsession, and it's just not worth it."

After the competition, when Taryn eased up on the extreme conditioning, she naturally put on weight. But she came to appreciate her body for what it could do rather than placing too much attention on how it appeared. Indeed, she was learning to love her body and lead a more balance life. When she heard her girlfriends complaining about their bodies, she felt compelled to post her unconventional photos to Facebook.

Upon discovering all the media buzz the post caused, Brumfitt says, "I was so surprised. I just wanted to help people." Another thing she did not expect was the onslaught of emails she received from people relaying their painful struggles with their body image."

In turn, Brumfitt authored her book "Embrace," and thereafter produced the documentary of the same title exploring the global issue of body loathing and why poor body image has become a global epidemic. "This issue was much bigger than I ever realized," she asserts. The movie is available on iTunes and other online, cable and satellite platforms including Brumfitt's website, bodyimagemovement.com