Jennie Garth Says Her Experience on ‘90210’ as a Teen Influences the Way She Parents Her Daughters
Although the hit ‘90s teen series Beverly Hills, 90210 launched Jennie Garth’s career, it wasn’t without its problems. In a raw new interview with Self (in which Garth revealed she’s had two hip replacements!), the 52-year-old opened up about how what she went through on the show as a teen still influences the way she parents her three daughters.
Garth is mom to Luca Bella, 27, Lola Ray, 21, and Fiona Eve, 17, with ex Peter Facinelli. With her hip surgery recovery, staying healthy and active in her ‘50s, and life in general, Garth admitted that she feels “a sense of responsibility to continue to motivate others, but also to set an example for my three girls, who are the same age I was when I was on 90210,” she told Self.
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Now, she recognizes that she didn’t have a sense of self-worth back then, and she wants to change that with her girls. “My personal development was incredibly stunted during my time on the show,” Garth explained. “I spent such formative years as a teen on set, working so hard and not having a sense of myself at all. I thought my worth was dependent on looking a certain way and feeling valued by others, and I was always focused on pleasing everybody and looking good.”
Many of us have felt the same when we were younger — I certainly have! — influenced in part by 2000s diet culture and the overwhelming pressure to be thin. I can’t imagine how much more challenging it would have been to feel that way while starring in one of the most popular shows of the decade.
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“I put a lot of pressure on myself as a young girl, but I think I could have been a little easier on myself,” the I Choose Me podcast host continued. And she is making sure her daughters understand their own value. “I’m constantly giving my daughters little nudges and advice that I also wish I could tell my younger self: ‘Calm down. Everything’s going to be okay. Don’t hit it so hard all the time.’”
In an interview with SheKnows in July, the What I Like About You star revealed that her mom has given her some words of wisdom as well. “[My mom’s] … sort of version of ‘I choose me’ was ‘don’t give away all your stars,’” she said, referencing her famous 90210 line.
“It’s been like a lifetime of growth for me and really searching,” Garth continued. “I love to learn and grow. I feel like if you’re not growing, you’re slowing, and so for me, that has just been sort of my life journey. So I’ve always told them that. To save some for yourself, you know? You deserve to love yourself too … It’s just a part of the backbone of our family.”
Garth added, “I think [raising three young women] is the most important job I’ve ever had and it’s the thing I’m the most proud of; I’m so proud of my girls.”
These celebrities overcame their childhood trauma to be better parents to their own children.
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