How Thin Is Too Thin? Jenna Ortega, Hollywood and the Dangerous Return of Skinny

A SQUAD Health & Wellness conversation about celebrity culture, eating disorders, and why your body is never a trend

Photo credit Esquire Magazine Youtube

Every August, the internet seems to find something new to obsess over about Jenna Ortega.

Last year, it was her eyebrows. This year, it's her body.

The 23-year-old Coachella Valley native and Gen Z scream queen recently sat down with Esquire, and fans quickly turned the conversation toward her appearance. Some expressed concern about how thin she looked, while others questioned whether eating disorders are becoming the newest Hollywood trend.

But here's the thing: we don't actually know what is happening inside someone else's body.

What Jenna has openly discussed is her experience as a child actor. She began acting at just 9 years old on Jane the Virgin. In her Esquire interview, she described being so grateful and excited to be on set that her “game face” was always on. She said she wouldn't ask for a sip of water and could go all day without eating or drinking because she desperately didn't want to be in the way.

That stopped me.

I've spent nearly 30 years in nursing, including more than two decades in pediatrics, and I've seen how easily children can learn to ignore what their bodies are telling them. Hunger, thirst and exhaustion aren't inconveniences. They're signals.

I've Seen Jenna Up Close

This story also feels personal to me because I actually saw Jenna Ortega in person at the 2024 Palm Springs International Film Festival, where she appeared for a Q&A for Miller's Girl alongside her co-stars.

Seeing her there in person was a very different experience from seeing a celebrity through a phone screen. She wasn't a photograph, a red-carpet image or a trending topic. She was a young actor sitting in front of a Palm Springs audience, talking about her work.

That memory makes today's online conversation feel even more surreal.

We can become so accustomed to seeing celebrities filtered through social media that we forget there is a real person behind the image.

When Skinny Becomes the Story

Jenna has grown up in the public eye, from Jane the Virgin to Wednesday, becoming one of the most recognizable young actors of her generation.

Because she grew up in La Quinta, her success can feel especially personal to young people here in the Coachella Valley. She's someone from the desert who made it.

That's inspiring.

But admiration can become complicated when a young fan starts thinking, If I want to look like her, maybe I need to look like that, too.

That's where the conversation matters.

Your Body Is Not a Hollywood Costume

Eating disorders are not fashion trends.

Anorexia nervosa is a serious mental illness involving restrictive eating and malnutrition. It can affect nearly every organ system and become life-threatening. Severe malnutrition can weaken the heart and affect bones, hormones, electrolytes, lungs and brain function.

And the brain needs fuel. Severe food restriction can interfere with concentration, thinking and mood while increasing preoccupation with food.

The GLP-1 Conversation

Then there's the conversation happening everywhere from Hollywood to TikTok: GLP-1 medications.

These medications have become important treatments for diabetes and obesity, but their popularity has also fueled a massive cultural conversation about weight loss and thinness.

Here's the important distinction: we cannot diagnose an eating disorder by looking at someone's body.

At the same time, we shouldn't ignore a culture that repeatedly tells women, especially young women, that smaller automatically means better.

So, How Thin Is Too Thin?

Honestly? That's the wrong question.

The better question is: Is this person healthy, nourished, functioning and supported?

We can't answer that by scrolling Instagram or comparing our bodies to a celebrity's.

And here in Palm Springs, where pool culture can sometimes make body comparison feel like an Olympic sport, we could all use a little less body surveillance and a little more body respect.

Wear the bikini.

Eat the fries in moderation.

Drink the water.

Take the nap.

Go dancing.

Your body isn't a trend report or a Hollywood accessory.

It's the place you get to live your life.

And that's worth taking care of.

If You or Someone You Love Is Struggling

If you suspect that you or someone you love may have an eating disorder, talk with a healthcare professional or qualified mental-health provider. Eating disorders are serious illnesses, but recovery is possible, and early support can make a meaningful difference.

This article is for education and awareness and is not a substitute for individualized medical care.

About the Author

Ersilia Pompilio is the Editor-in-Chief of SQUAD Magazine, a Palm Springs guide for bachelorettes and ladies who love to leisure, where she covers travel, entertainment, culture, and lifestyle. A Los Angeles native and Palm Springs resident for more than 20 years, she is an award-winning storyteller with over two decades of experience as a writer, live performer, storytelling producer, podcast host, and storytelling instructor. Ersilia is also a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner who has taught nursing at four universities and is the creator and host of The Nurses and Hypochondriacs Podcast, where she combines medicine with the art of storytelling. Whether she's interviewing local celebrities, uncovering hidden desert gems, or writing about the latest girls' trip trends, her work blends humor, heart, and curiosity to create stories that connect with readers.