'Lizzie McGuire' Alum Lalaine Vergara-Paras Reveals She Was Forced To Look 'As White As Possible'

For a person of color, growing up in Hollywood (or anywhere in America for that matter) isn’t easy — especially at a time when white washing was just part of the game.
One actor who definitely struggled with this was Lalaine Vergara-Paras, who revealed she was “forced to look as ‘white’ as possible” for most of her life, including when she played Hilary Duff’s BFF Miranda in Lizzie McGuire.
The former Disney star opened up about her experience as a Filipino actress in Hollywood in a candid Instagram post, reminding fans how much the industry prioritized whiteness not too long ago.
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On Wednesday, the 31-year-old revealed she struggles to find pictures of herself where she looks “as ethnic as possible,” adding that the pic she shared — one of herself wearing a feathered top and a floral headband — is the “most East Asian [she’s] ever looked” on camera.
She explained in the caption:

“Most of my life growing up I was forced to look as ‘white’ as possible. These days I struggle to find photos where I look as ethnic as possible. Or like in this photo the most East asian I’ve ever looked. In order to see, for most people, you have to zoom in on ma face. And in case you still don’t understand, I love my face in this photo.”

You tell ’em, gurl! See the pic that she shared (below):

“As a mixed person I think it’s important to embrace both sides. I too have been denied for roles countless times for either being ‘too ethnic’ as well as being ‘too white.’”

It’s hard out there for a racially ambiguous actor.
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As fans remember, the series eventually gave Miranda Sanchez a rich Mexican background — despite the fact that Vergara-Paras is decidedly not of Mexican descent.
Thankfully, the entertainment industry has come a long way in recent years and is finally starting to recognize the importance of celebrating people of all backgrounds. 
But when Vergara-Paras was coming of age, it was clearly a much darker (read: whiter) time for minority actors.
[Image via WENN]