Gus Kenworthy Opens Up About 'Absolute Body Dysmorphia'

Even professional athletes and actors have to deal with body image issues.

Gus Kenworthy has opened up about his struggles with body dysmorphia, which causes persistent, intense shame and hatred over perceived body defects.

“I don’t think I have the perfect body,” Kenworthy told Attitude. “I have absolute body dysmorphia, the same way that every gay person does.”

“There are moments where I'm, like, super happy with how my body looks and I’m being stricter about what I’m eating and better with my training,” he continued. “And then there are moments where I’m not feeling good about it. And the way that Instagram works is that’s probably not the time I’m going to post a photo. So it creates this kind of distorted version of reality.”

He did, however, say that he is perfectly happy being viewed as a sex symbol, even if he’s not always feeling himself.

“In terms of being viewed as sexual, I don’t care,” he said. “I’m flattered and fine with it. I’m a very, very sexual person and I’m very open about it.”

Kenworthy, who first came to fame as a silver medalist in skiing at the 2014 Winter Olympics, has since shifted into acting, with his first major role being in American Horror Story: 1984.

In the interview, Kenworthy also opened up about playing straight roles as a gay man.

“The beauty of acting is that you’re taking on another character,” he said. “I think that when it comes to queer roles, I don’t think it should be forbidden for straight actors to play those parts. But I do think that gay actors should be considered for them and sometimes aren’t.”

“I’m not a super serious classically trained dramatic actor that’s coming for Oscars,” he said of what kinds of roles he wants to play. “I want to play a semblance of myself – the love interest in a gay rom-com is my dream role.”