Camila Mendes shares the heartbreaking meaning behind her rib tattoo
11 September 2019, 18:24
Camila Mendes bravely opened up about being sexually assaulted in college and explained how that experience inspired her "to build a home" tattoo.
Riverdale's Camila Mendes recently told the heartbreaking story behind a tattoo she has on her ribs. In an interview with Women's Health, the actress revealed that she was sexually assaulted in college and explained how that experience inspired her tattoo and its deeply personal meaning.
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Camila has a tattoo on her rib which says "to build a home" in cursive writing and told Women's Health that she got the ink after her freshman year at NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
“I had a very, very bad experience; I was roofied by someone who sexually assaulted me,” Camila explained.
The term "roofie" is a colloquialism for date rape drugs like Rohypnol. Roofies are, unfortunately, used by predators who covertly slip the drug into their victim's drink in order to cause "lack of muscle control, amnesia, loss of inhibitions, and loss of consciousness," according to WedMD.
Camila told the publication that, after that experience, she vowed to do things for herself that were "safe and comfortable"–like what she imagined a home would be like.
The profile goes on to say that "the tattoo reminds her to strengthen both her sense of self and the environment around her."
Camila has been open about her personal experiences in the past, especially surrounding body image and her battle with an eating disorder.
Last year, Camila revealed that she'd battled bulimia when she was younger and gave an update to Women's Health, telling the publication that she has been able to get better with the help of a nutritionist and a therapist.
