You can blame the picture-perfect advertisements and Facetuned photos on social media for the impossible beauty standards that exist today, but it's long been a practice placed upon people in Hollywood — a practice Dawson says is slowly shifting.
"I'd go into these auditions with a turtleneck sweater on and they'd be like, 'Can she wear something that shows her form a little better?' I'm like, 'Are you kidding? I look exactly the same.'"
"I had an aha moment way earlier [in my career] where I noticed these unrealistic ideals," Dawson said. "I used to have these funny conversations with my manager about it because I'd go into these auditions with a turtleneck sweater on and they'd be like, 'Can she wear something that shows her form a little better?' I'm like, 'Are you kidding? I look exactly the same.' I've spoken a lot to the abuse we put upon people in this industry. It's affecting the actors and the actresses and the models and everybody in this standard of beauty that is impossible for most human beings. It is really unhealthy. Then that perpetuates through the entire populous at large. It's why this idea of self-care and wellness is so important, but we need to change our mindset first."