How 'Dancing with the Stars' Changed Selma Blair's Relationship with Food and Exercise

How 'Dancing with the Stars' Changed Selma Blair's Relationship with Food and Exercise

Selma Blair sheds more light on her experiences as a cast member on "Dancing with the Stars" and how having multiple sclerosis (MS) affected her relationship with herself in a new cover story for Self.

The naturally blonde actress' decision to appear on the competitive dance series was a big deal for more than a few reasons. For one thing, it was a departure from how she normally presents herself in the spotlight. “I’m historically not good on television,” Blair said. "I don't really have that commercial face with the bleached teeth and the Botox and the whole thing is very camera friendly."

However, when she realized "what a vehicle" the show could be in terms of representation, she decided to give it a try. “I think it's important for people with chronic illnesses or disabilities to see what they can do,” Blair recalled telling her team when the offer to appear on the show was on the table. “I deserve to have a good time and try.”

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Going on the show offered Blair some unexpected benefits, according to her recent conversation with Self. She surprised herself at how much she enjoyed the experience. "I felt like I was back in college and you loved the classes," she told the publication. “It immediately changed my mindset and gave me instant momentum.”

More than just her step, the show affected her approach to diet and fitness, as she quickly learned that she needed to fuel her body with nutritious meals instead of Cheetos and bologna to keep up with her new dance training schedule. "It changed my relationship with food and exercise," Blair explained in the recent interview, noting that at the time she hired a friend to cook for her and her son. “I had energy and I slept well.”

As much as she loved being a part of the show, the Cruel Intentions actress had to listen to her body and say goodbye early after dealing with stress fractures and bleeding in her knee, a torn ligament in her ankle and an injury in her hip. reports self. “I was so broken that I was hurt,” Blair said.

“I really wanted to move on,” she continued. "I was really proud of myself for holding out for at least five weeks. But there was a time when I had to take care of myself." Looking back on this experience, “it gave me some inner knowing that I was stronger than I thought.”

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Blair was diagnosed with MS in 2018 and shared the news with the public in an interview with Town & Country in April 2021. The condition can disrupt communication between the brain and other parts of the body as the immune system attacks the protective covering of nerve fibers, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Symptoms are different for everyone and can include numbness or weakness in the limbs, incoordination, blurred vision, inability to walk, fatigue and slurred speech. There is currently no cure, but treatments such as anti-inflammatory medications and plasma exchange can help relieve symptoms and slow disease progression.

While Blair still experiences occasional MS symptoms, she is in remission, meaning the disease is not progressing. Along with her stint on Dancing with the Stars, Blair has also focused her energy on making beauty more inclusive for people with disabilities and chronic illnesses. She is currently the Chief Creative Officer of Guide Beauty, a brand that sells beauty products and tools designed to guide your hands during use, making it easier for people with a range of abilities to apply their own makeup.

After everything she's been through in the last few years, the entrepreneur and mother finds some positive aspects of her diagnosis. "It rewired me to find acceptance by being honest about my mistakes, about my past addictions, and about my struggles," she told Self. “It made me more empathetic towards myself.”