Barbara Palvin reveals pregnancy weight anxiety

Barbara Palvin has spoken candidly about the emotional challenges she has faced during pregnancy, revealing that old body image insecurities resurfaced as she prepares to welcome her first child with husband Dylan Sprouse.

The Hungarian model and actress, who is expecting a baby girl, shared that watching her body change during pregnancy brought back anxieties she thought she had left behind after years in the fashion industry.

Reflecting on the early stages of pregnancy, Palvin admitted that seeing the number on the scale increase quickly and noticing physical changes before her baby bump appeared left her feeling overwhelmed. She explained that her clothes no longer fit the way they once did, making it difficult to adjust emotionally to the transformation.

She said those changes caused her to spiral, as pregnancy altered her body in ways she had not fully anticipated. However, Palvin credited Dylan Sprouse for helping her through those moments of self-doubt.

According to the model, her husband consistently reminded her that the changes were part of creating a new life, encouraging her to view pregnancy with compassion instead of criticism. She said having a supportive partner made a significant difference in helping her accept her changing body.

Palvin also reflected on the lasting impact of growing up in the modeling industry, where appearance was constantly evaluated. She revealed that she began modeling at just 13 years old and, by the age of 17, frequently faced pressure to lose weight. Agency representatives often told her that her hips were too large, comments she says deeply affected her confidence during her teenage years.

The model explained that years of criticism led her to develop an unhealthy relationship with her body. She recalled trying strict diets and constantly worrying about meeting unrealistic beauty standards, believing that becoming thinner was the only way to succeed in the industry.

One of the defining moments in her career came when she landed an opportunity with Victoria’s Secret, which initially felt like validation that all of her hard work had paid off. However, that excitement was soon overshadowed after she was publicly labeled as the brand’s first “plus-size” model.

Palvin clarified that she has no issue with the term itself or with plus-size representation in fashion. What made the label difficult was that it did not reflect how she saw herself after years of striving to fit the industry’s traditional size expectations.

Now, as she embraces motherhood, Palvin hopes to approach her changing body with greater kindness while leaving behind the unrealistic standards that shaped much of her early career.