‘Jane The Virgin’ Star Gina Rodriguez Says Boyfriend Built Up Her Self-Esteem

Every girl has her own personal body insecurities, and “Jane the Virgin” star Gina Rodriguez is no exception. Living with Hashimoto’s disease, which the actress considers as “the curse of a lifetime,” Rodriguez could not afford not to take good care of herself.

“To the core of my being, I know what it's like to feel like there is no way I can win this, so where do I even begin,” Rodriguez told Self. “[Hashimoto's] affects so many aspects of your life. I’ve had it for so many years...that rebellion of not taking care of myself can’t exist anymore.”

Hasimoto’s targets the thyroid, and when this happen, the body suffers from symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, memory loss, and weight gain.

While there are treatments for the disease, there is really no cure for it. In an age where being skinny is in, having the disease can really take its toll on any girl. However, Rodriguez decided she would rather focus on being healthy instead of being thin.

She added that her boyfriend, Joe LoCicero, helped her develop this mindset. "[He] has really helped me have a healthier perspective on [weight], that stupid number that can destroy us and feel like it’s equivalent to our self-worth,” she explained.

“This love is so easy,” she continued, adding that her relationship with LoCicero is one that is full of “respect and kindness, and generosity, and compromise, and sacrifice.”

This was not the first time Rodriguez credited LoCicero for her healthy self-esteem. She used to feel upset whenever her clothes feel tight or don’t fit, but LoCicero taught her how to combat that.

“Before, I would have beaten myself up. But my boyfriend gave me some great advice. He said, ‘Don’t be angry with your body — it changed because your routine shifted.’ And that was like a gift,” she told Shape. “As an actress, there are so many pressures to look a certain way and fit into a sample size. But I’ve got to embrace the fact that when I’m shooting ‘Jane,’ I can’t work out as much. My body is going to look different, and that’s okay. I’m not willing to wring the joy from my life to kill myself in the gym.”