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A star of the Degrassi<\/em> series is speaking out about why she felt the need to open up after she said she received “nasty” comments from people about her appearance. Miriam McDonald recently explained how she felt hurt by the words left about her looks after she was featured in a new documentary on the hit Canadian TV series<\/a> \u2014 and why she’s now trying to be more gentle with herself.<\/p>\n The 38-year-old former actress, who portrayed Emma Nelson on Degrassi: The Next Generation<\/em>, spoke to Canadian TV host Traci Melchor in a recent interview about the situation. A clip<\/a> posted on social media showed McDonald explaining she wasn’t happy with her appearance after prescreening the documentary by filmmaker Lisa Rideout<\/a>, which premiered at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival<\/a>.<\/p>\n After reading the notes people left online about her looks, the Oakville, Ont.-born star shared<\/a> it was difficult realizing there were parts of herself that weren’t as healed as she had hoped: “I would’ve liked to believe that those comments couldn’t get to me, that I would be able to brush them off. But they did get under my skin, and I gave myself 48 hours to wallow in the hurt of it.”<\/p>\n She then decided she wasn’t going to sit in silence. After sharing a lengthy message online last month, she said she learned people are more receptive to authenticity than perfection.<\/p>\n “That got more love and more support than anything I ever posted, because that’s what people want. … They’re interested in what makes a person real,” she shared<\/a>, adding she was “humbled beyond measure” by the kindness of people following the online negativity.<\/p>\n In the comments section of the post, McDonald continued her thoughts, saying she wished she could’ve been more eloquent during the interview. However, she noted she was grateful her words could make an impact.<\/p>\n “To anyone who’s ever felt the need to apologize for something about yourself that you cannot change, please remember this: The best parts of us all are our inner light, the kindness you extend to uplift or help those around you, and the good you put out into the world,” McDonald wrote in her message<\/a>, adding she still sees all the bad features she “wasted too many years wishing I could change” when re-watching the clip.<\/p>\n “But I’m learning to be gentler with myself, and I hope this can be a reminder for all of us to extend that same kindness inward.”<\/p>\n On Aug. 27, McDonald shared an Instagram post<\/a> explaining her thoughts about her appearance in the documentary. She admitted she got Botox and filler about a month or two before filming for the movie had begun. “Looking back, I regret that choice.”<\/p>\n She further shared how she wasn’t feeling “perfect” in her skin, and how she aimed to “fix” flaws like fine lines, under-eye hollowness and thin lips. “What I thought would help ended up leaving me looking less like myself,” she wrote<\/a>, sharing she initially thought no one would notice the changes to her appearance.<\/p>\n “I wasn’t experiencing a medical issue or complication \u2014 just a lapse in judgment,” she continued<\/a>. “Thankfully, Botox wears off and fillers dissolve over time. But interviews live forever online.<\/p>\n “I’d be lying if I said the comments don’t sting. I may have once been an actress, but I don’t live in that world anymore. I don’t have a thick Hollywood skin \u2014 I’m just a person. And the truth is, hearing critiques about how I look hurts just as much as it would hurt your sister, your daughter or your friend. … I’d rather own my imperfections than keep chasing ‘fixes.’ I’m still a work in progress, but I’m learning, and I’m grateful.”<\/p>\n Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @<\/em><\/strong>YahooStyleCA<\/em><\/strong><\/a>! Follow us on <\/em><\/strong>Twitter<\/em><\/strong><\/a> and <\/em><\/strong>Instagram<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n