Valerie Bertinelli'S Bold Body Acceptance: Apologies, Surgeries, And Stripping Down At 65

Valerie Bertinelli's Journey to Self-Acceptance

Valerie Bertinelli is embracing her body at 65, but it hasn't always been smooth sailing. In a candid chat with People, she delved into her lifelong struggles with body image, a topic she explores in her upcoming memoir, "Getting Naked." Reflecting on her past, Bertinelli shared, "I've had this love-hate thing with my body for too many decades. Enough already, felt like I was really getting to the final, like, 'oh, I'm, like, healed.' And then 2024 came and it was like the worst year of my life."

Surgeries and Struggles

2024 was indeed a challenging year for the "One Day at a Time" star. She underwent four surgeries in six months, faced hair loss, and dealt with emotional issues. Among these surgeries was the removal of her '80s breast implants, followed by a procedure to tackle an infection. "I lost way too much weight in 2024 because I was so stressed out," she confessed. "I never want to be that weight again either. I'm finally at a comfortable place where my clothes fit. They're not too big. They're not too small. I'm just normal."

“And when we stop being mean to ourselves, we don’t let other people be mean to us,” Bertinelli wisely noted.

Defying the Pressure

Valerie also addressed the external pressures to maintain a certain body image. "Being told all those things. 'Your body isn’t perfect enough. You’re not still 110 pounds.' Well, who could be 110 pounds?" she remarked. Reaching a point of self-acceptance, she began apologizing to her body for years of harsh criticism.

Stripping Down for Empowerment

In a bold move, Bertinelli decided to pose naked for her memoir's cover, a testament to her newfound confidence. "Part of me also feels like at this age if I can look that good, I’m like, ‘Do it’ because that feels really good," she revealed. "I think you’re allowed to feel good about yourself. I have felt bad about myself for too many decades. I’m going to feel good about myself now."

Her memoir, "Getting Naked," is set to hit shelves on Tuesday, March 10, offering readers an intimate look at Bertinelli's journey towards self-love and acceptance.