Mindy Kaling supporters rallied around her after she commented on how her physical appearance has changed in the past decade.
The actress, 46, shared a series of photos via Instagram on Thursday, January 15, as part of a viral trend of posting throwbacks from 2016.
“I saw this 2016 trend and loved it and almost didn’t post because I look different but these pics are too fun not to share,” she captioned the images. “(I wonder if anyone else can relate lol) but I loved this time and all my memories from then, so had to post! Enjoy!!!!”
The accompanying photos showed Kaling in costume as her character Mindy Lahiri from The Mindy Project, which she created and starred on for six seasons from 2012 to 2017. She also included pictures from her off-camera life, such as a shot of her with the late Betty White.
Fans appreciated the trip down memory lane, but some couldn’t help but weigh in on Kaling’s remarks about her appearance.
“Mindy, I want you to hear when I say this: we love every look you’ve given us!!!! Mindy Project was [a] GIFT. Post away!!!!” one Instagram user commented, while another wrote, “Um your looks are incredible and you’re insanely hot FIRE ME FOR SAYING IT I DON’T CARE.”
A third person replied: “This is the Mindy we fell in love with. Not your weight, not your dress size but the talented writer, creator and comedic genius you are.”
“Hilarious then. Hilarious now,” another responded. “Beautiful then. Beautiful now.”
Several Instagram users expressed their dismay over the possibility that Kaling was referring to her pre-weight loss figure.
“Kinda makes me sad to think you see anything but real perfection in your 2016s,” one person wrote, while another shared, “I love this Mindy, and while I’m happy for your Hollywood health journey, it breaks my heart to hear you say that.”
Kaling has focused more on her health since becoming a mom to daughter Kit, 8, son Spencer, 5, and daughter Anne, who will turn 2 in February.
“I’ve tried really hard to let go of this idea of losing weight for vanity reasons and really trying to think of how I can be healthy,” she told People in 2022. “And for me, healthy is working out, moving my body a lot, keeping hydrated and then not having negative connotations around working out and making me feel like if I don’t do this, then I won’t be something else.”
As for her diet, Kaling made small changes that led to lasting results.
“Honestly, I didn’t really do anything differently. I eat what I like to eat. If I do any kind of restrictive diet, it never really works for me. I just eat less of it,” she told Entertainment Tonight in 2022. “I wish there was something more juicy or dynamic about the way that I’ve lost a little bit of weight, but that’s the way I’ve done it.”
This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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