A former Walt Disney World character performer is opening up about the not-so-magical side of working as a princess. Lauren Seeley, who portrayed characters including Anna and Rapunzel between 2016 and 2020, went viral on TikTok after sharing how casting feedback about her appearance left a lasting mark on her self-image.
In her video, Seeley recalled the routine “relook” process, where performers are evaluated to ensure they still meet the physical expectations of their roles. “Casting basically told me that I was fat,” she said, clarifying that while those exact words weren’t used, the message was clear. After gaining 10 to 15 pounds in college, Seeley said casting staff told her that her arms looked “full” and suggested she be “conscious of that.”
For the performer, those comments had a ripple effect. “I have had a crippling fear of wearing sleeveless things that I have only now started to conquer after losing 30 pounds,” she explained, adding that just this past weekend was the first time in years she felt comfortable wearing something without sleeves. “Rapunzel’s sleeves are not in any way forgiving,” she noted, underscoring the pressure to maintain a specific look for the role.
Former Disney Character Performer Recalls Casting Feedback That Sparked Years of Insecurities
Despite acknowledging the rewarding aspects of the job, Seeley admitted that the experience also introduced new insecurities she’s carried long after her time at Disney. “Casting definitely has given some women eating disorders, made women feel like they’re a million years old when they’re, like, 27, but it’s part of the job, I guess,” she said.
She expanded on her perspective in the caption of her post, writing, “Edit for clarity: It is your job to maintain your appearance, casting was just doing their jobs! That doesn’t make it easier to hear. And I acknowledge casting themselves didn’t give women eating disorders, the situation unfortunately sometimes led to those issues and insecurities. Hope that helps clarify some comments I’ve seen!”
Seeley summed up the conflicting emotions of her Disney career simply, “Being a character performer was such a rewarding job, but also brought an onslaught of new insecurities.”
