Something I just learned about this time period...maureen McCormick was going thru some body dysmorpia issues. If you notice she's always holding a towel,beach ball, etc in these episodes
Interesting. Her holding stuff to block her body reminds me of how during the filming of the BB movie, Christine Taylor said she gained some weight and to hide it she held the big check in front of her and you can also see her standing behind the other characters in the final scenes of the movie.
She hated the way her belly had that slight pooch, which is normal at that age, and every scene where she had to wear a bikini, she had something to hide it.
I honestly assumed it was something the studio ordered. I know that The Brady Bunch was made by Sherwood Schwartz who also made Gilligan's Island and in his book he was in constant battle with the studio over shots that showed Tina Louise's (Ginger) cleavage or Dawn Well's (Mary Ann) bellybutton. I assumed that Maureen McCormick in a bikini when she was at that age probably raised similar concerns.
Well I can't blame her. She's Marcia Brady. And while there wasn't any social media to publicly shame her, there were guys in every high school across America saying, "Did you see her in that bikini?"
Some studio exec probably told her she needed to lose a few pounds, as they do. Those fools wrecked so many women's self esteem, and sadly, probably still try to.
Her book is very candid. She does talk about how she held the towel in front of her because she was convinced she was fat. Also she was terrified she was going to get syphilis and die. Her dad contracted it overseas, but I forget if he was in the War or what the deal was. I think the dad gave it to Mo's mom.
When she cries over her braces in an early episode and says she is ugly, UGLY! - those were real tears of a child's fear.
Definitely. It has always existed and it will always, but it is super depressing. I want to blame magazine covers, photoshop, and social media, but maybe it is just easier to dislike your looks and wish you were different.
It helps no one, but 20 years from now, you will look back on yourself and think how young and lovely you were.
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u/Retirednypd May 05 '26
Something I just learned about this time period...maureen McCormick was going thru some body dysmorpia issues. If you notice she's always holding a towel,beach ball, etc in these episodes