Jessica Simpson reflects on long history of body shaming issues

Jessica Simpson's virtual sit-down on The Drew Barrymore Show was reflective and wide-ranging, fitting because her reason for visiting was hinged on her new Take the Lead: An Essay out today (April 29).

Barrymore began the winding conversation by commending Simpson's billion-dollar eponymous clothing collection, before touching on the groundbreaking Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica reality show (2003-05) with then-husband Nick Lachey, then landing on body image issues associated with church culture and the entertainment industry.

"I was even judged in the church growing up, singing on stage," Simpson, 40, shared. "I had to wear, like, blazers, vests, turtlenecks because if I just wore a regular shirt like all the rest of the girls—I mean, when I would sing, I would feel the Holy Spirit and get chill bumps and apparently people would lust, and so I had to cover it all up."

Simpson continued: 'I've literally been judged for my body, like, since I was a kid. Judged in the church, and then after the church, it was like, 'No, be sexier!' But then it was like, oh, but you always have to look that way if you do it once. You have to remain that body forever, and that is what you should be. I mean, turning in my weight to the label, that's not OK."