Jessica Simpson, 43, shares 'unrecognizable' photo taken six years ago before she got sober - after denying using Ozempic to lose weight
Jessica Simpson was in a contemplative mood on Thursday, as she re-posted an 'unrecognizable' photo of herself from six years ago to her Instagram Stories.
The Take My Breath Away hitmaker, 43, shared the snap — which she previously posted on her profile in 2021 — writing '6 years ago.'
The Dukes Of Hazzard actress revealed in her memoir Open Book that she went sober in 2017, and took to Instagram to share a photograph of herself while in the midst of her addiction.
The unflattering snap sees the blonde beauty look nothing like her usual self, while wearing a pink track suit as she sits in a dark room.
In the original caption Simpson wrote: 'This person in the early morning of Nov 1, 2017 is an unrecognizable version of myself.'
Throwback: Jessica Simpson was in a contemplative mood on Thursday, as she re-posted an 'unrecognizable' photo of herself from six years ago to her Instagram Stories
A closer look: The Take My Breath Away hitmaker, 43, shared the snap — which she previously posted on her profile in 2021 — writing '6 years ago'
'Unrecognizable': In the original caption she explained the photo was taken before she got sober: 'This person in the early morning of Nov 1, 2017 is an unrecognizable version of myself'
She went on: 'I had so much self discovery to unlock and explore. I knew in this very moment I would allow myself to take back my light, show victory over my internal battle of self respect, and brave this world with piercing clarity.'
'Personally, to do this I needed to stop drinking alcohol because it kept my mind and heart circling in the same direction and quite honestly I was exhausted. I wanted to feel the pain so I could carry it like a badge of honor.'
Simpson continued: 'I wanted to live as a leader does and break cycles to advance forward- never looking back with regret and remorse over any choice I have made and would make for the rest of my time here within this beautiful world.'
'I can’t believe it has been 4yrs! It feels like maybe 2. I think that is a good thing. Ha. There is so much stigma around the word alcoholism or the label of an alcoholic. The real work that needed to be done in my life was to actually accept failure, pain, brokenness, and self sabotage.'
'The drinking wasn't the issue. I was. I didn’t love myself. I didn’t respect my own power. Today I do.'
'I have made nice with the fears and I have accepted the parts of my life that are just sad. I own my personal power with soulful courage. I am wildly honest and comfortably open. I am free.'
In her memoir Open Book she talked about getting sober. 'I was killing myself with all the drinking and pills,' she said. 'Giving up the alcohol was easy. I was mad at that bottle. At how it allowed me to stay complacent and numb.'
Therapy was not as easy: 'With work, I allowed myself to feel the traumas I'd been through.'
Transformation: The unflattering snap comes after the star denied using Ozempic and claimed she lost 100lbs all on her own; pictured in April
Bikini body: Jessica shared over a year ago: 'I have gained and lost 100lbs 3x so I never thought this moment could or would happen, but I’m finally spring breakin’ wearin’ a BIKINI!!!!!!'
Willpower: In an interview with Bustle published in July, she adamantly denied using Ozempic and insisted she slimmed down through 'willpower'; seen with husband Eric Johnson in June
100 lbs: Jessica revealed she had lost 100 pounds six months after the birth of her third child in September 2019 (pictured left in 2023, and right in 2012 when she was pregnant with her first child)
The unflattering snap comes after the star denied using Ozempic and claimed she lost 100lbs all on her own.
In an interview with Bustle published in July, she adamantly denied using Ozempic and insisted she slimmed down through 'willpower'.
The former reality TV personality also revealed that cutting out alcohol largely contributed to her weight loss.
'Oh Lord. I mean, it is not' — Ozempic, she means — 'it's willpower. I'm like, do people want me to be drinking again? Because that's when I was heavier. Or they want me to be having another baby? My body can't do it.'
She has been every size from 0 to 12 (which was when she was pregnant).
'I am fortunate to have been every size,' she said. 'For [my] brand, understanding the women [who buy our products], and for my psyche.'
People making comments about her looks 'hurts,' she told the outlet.
'Am I going to let the negativity derail me? No, I'm too old for that. I am too connected to myself right now to let that derail me. It doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt,' she said.
The whole family: Jessica shares three children with former NFL player husband Eric, 44: Maxwell, 11, Ace, 10, and Birdie, four
In late August, she also spoke about how she does not understand why there continues to be a conversation about her weight.
'I think it just doesn't need to be a conversation,' she told Access Hollywood at the time.
Throughout her more than two decades in the spotlight, she has been open about feeling stuck on an endless roller coaster of yo-yo dieting and over-exercising to maintain her fluctuating figure.
While reflecting on her weight loss journey, which included losing 100 pounds after reaching 260 pounds during her pregnancy with daughter Birdie Mae, the performer talked about finding peace with her body after saying her role in the 2005 film Dukes of Hazzard created an unrealistic 'gold standard' for her body.
Jessica shares three children with husband Eric: Maxwell, 11, Ace, 10, and Birdie, four.
