Jenny McCarthy Loves Her Imperfections, Not Her Perm
Jenny McCarthy is blonde, beautiful, and bold. (Photo: Getty)
With her signature blonde hair and big smile, funny woman Jenny McCarthy is always Stirring The Pot and making people laugh. With a recent wedding to former New Kid on the Block Donnie Wahlberg and a surprising exit from The View, McCarthy isn’t skipping a beat. On break from her standup Dirty, Sexy, Funny tour, at a 4-course meal she hosted at the Strip House Next Door in NYC, McCarthy dished her cousin Melissa McCarthy (humor definitely runs in the family), the horrifying facial and hair treatments she experienced (thanks mom), and how she teaches her little one about bullies and beauty.
Yahoo Beauty: At 42, what makes you feel confident and sexy?
Jenny McCarthy: What makes me feel confident and sexy is No. 1: when I love myself no matter what. When I feel like I love my flaws, that’s when I feel the prettiest. It’s not necessarily when I’m at my optimal weight. Sometimes I’m my harshest critic when I’m at my optimal weight, and I love myself more when I’ve got zits and I’m an extra 20 pounds. It’s really all about your spirit and your soul.
What are the mantras that you live with?
So many, but one is, that whenever you have a problem with someone else, that problem is really a reflection of your own problem to work on.
How does that translate to your day-to-day life?
I’ve been teaching [my son] Evan about getting bullied, because he’s recently gone through some things. I found an interesting way to teach him, which was bullies are kind of sad inside. Something happened that made them sad, and the only way that they know how to get it out is by passing their “yuckies” onto someone else. They do it by name-calling and the only way you can catch their “yuckies” is if you believe what they say about you.
Otherwise you’re protected?
Otherwise, you love yourself. He goes, “So then, what do I do?” I said, “You just kind of send them love and know that it has nothing to do with you.” He came home and said, “Someone tried to pass me their yuckies. I just felt bad for them and walked away.” I was like, “That’s perfect!” They’re bigger than mantras. They’re kind of philosophies. I’m doing my best.
What about other positive messages?
I’m a work in progress. I’m okay when I make mistakes and [screw] up. I will never preach that I am perfect by any means, and I forgive myself when I screw up.
How do you define beauty to Evan?
Always within. I tell him he’s so beautiful but I also say, “Your soul, your spirit, is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” I had him watch the movie The Iron Giant when they’re like “Souls never die!” and that really helped him understand that we’re more than our physical bodies. It’s been wonderful. He sees all shapes and colors and the beauty of everybody. I’m like, “Ok. I’m still doing my job.”
What’s one beauty look you’d never revisit?
A perm!
When did you have a perm?
Eighth grade. The worst time, ever. My mom was a hairdresser, so she would use us four girls as Guinea pigs. I had really long hair, down to my butt. She thought she [should] put the solution on first, then rolled it, and then put the solution on again and left it on for four times as long.
What was the end result?
I had an Afro that was from hair that was down to my hips that was shoulder length. I wore it in a French braid for two years.
What was the most disastrous beauty treatment you ever had, besides the perm?
An oxygen facial. I broke out so bad. My face was just loaded. I couldn’t believe it. I wouldn’t go out of the house for a few weeks because it was so bad. Hundreds of zits.
Your cousin is funny lady Melissa McCarthy. What have you taught each other about comedy?
When she first started out, she was in New York and I was in L.A. She called me and said, “I need to get out of here and get in front of a camera.” I said, “I can give you a job on my sketch show,” because I was on MTV then. She came on board. She was a P.A., crew. I put her in front of the TVs. She did one scene and I fell to the floor and went, “Oh my God. My cousin is a comic genius.” I don’t think there’s anyone funnier than her.
You’re on tour for your comedy show “Dirty, Sexy, Funny.” Name some of your essentials that fit each category.
Dirty stuff for your hair – dry shampoo! Oribe. It’s in my hair right now. Sexy – I use hemp lotion to feel sexy and also Love Potion from Victoria’s Secret. It’s a spray. Those are my go-to date smells. They have a clean, romantic smell. It makes the guy you’re with remember that smell. You wear it for those bow-chicka wow wow nights. Funny – a variety of awesome, goofy, flannel pajamas. I think I’ve got one with cheeseburgers all over it.
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