After a “teary-eyed goodbye” to Euphoria‘s Kat Hernandez and a candid explanation of her departure, actress and body positivity advocate Barbie Ferreira confidently stepped onto the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show runway, marking a powerful new chapter in her journey of self-acceptance and defiance of beauty standards.
For fans of HBO’s critically acclaimed series Euphoria, the news of Barbie Ferreira‘s departure from her beloved role as Kat Hernandez for its third season was met with a mix of sadness and understanding. Ferreira, who brought to life the “sex-positive, body-positive” character for four years, announced her exit with “a very teary-eyed goodbye” on social media.
A Mutual Farewell to Kat Hernandez
The decision to leave Euphoria was not an easy one for Ferreira, but it was mutual with show creator Sam Levinson. She explained her reasons on Dax Shepard‘s “Armchair Expert” podcast, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
Ferreira candidly shared, “I don’t think there was a place for her to go.” She also expressed a desire to “not be the fat best friend,” indicating a nuanced pushback against potential typecasting within the industry. This heartfelt sentiment resonated deeply with fans who had seen Kat’s complex journey of self-discovery and empowerment unfold on screen.
Despite her departure, Ferreira maintains strong connections with the cast, recently attending premieres for co-stars Maude Apatow and Sydney Sweeney. She has also confirmed she “sure will” be watching season 3, set to premiere in 2026.
Championing Body Positivity: From Early Struggles to Mainstream Influence
Long before her role in Euphoria, Barbie Ferreira emerged as a prominent voice for body positivity. Her career began with modeling stints for brands like American Apparel, H&M, Adidas, and Diesel, which often challenged traditional beauty standards. She’s been vocal about the “mass commodification” of the movement, where brands use inclusive messaging to sell products without truly embracing diverse narratives.
Ferreira recalls her own insecurities as a 16-year-old model, strategically hiding her body. Her eventual “fuck you” moment, paralleled by Kat’s journey on Euphoria, involved a profound decision to “at least try to be the bad bitch that I am, that I want to be, because I have no other choice.” This powerful declaration became a mantra for many of her followers, inspiring them to celebrate their own bodies and personalities.
She has also directly addressed the “backhanded compliments” she receives for wearing crop tops as a plus-sized model. As she told Who What Wear, “It’s not radical for me to be wearing a crop top. I’ve been doing this since I was 16. I’m 25.” Ferreira emphasizes that true self-love is a continuous, internal conversation, not an overnight transformation or a trend.
Her experience mirrors the struggles of Gen Z navigating an image-obsessed, internet-driven world. Ferreira notes that while the internet fostered a sense of community for her, it also brought “crippling anxiety,” “depression issues,” and “eating issues,” which she attributes to the constant overload of information and scrutiny.
A Dazzling Debut: Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2025
In a significant moment for her career and her advocacy, Barbie Ferreira made her highly anticipated debut at the 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. The event, held on Wednesday, October 15, at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York, showcased Ferreira’s confident stride on the runway.
Speaking to Us Weekly, Ferreira described the experience as a “pinch me moment” and admitted she was “truly gagged” when she first saw her “sexy” look. When asked about putting her curves on display in lingerie, she cheekily responded, “Let Jesus take the wheel.”
This appearance marked only her second runway walk, with her first being a college show “about 10 years ago.” She prepared diligently, receiving coaching from former runway model Mark Sebastian to perfect her stride. Ferreira embraces modeling as another facet of her acting, seeing it as an opportunity to “sell like a character,” albeit often a “sexier” one.
The Future of Ferreira: More Than a ‘Curve Girl’
Barbie Ferreira‘s journey reflects a broader cultural shift, while also highlighting the persistent challenges in media representation. She hopes that shows like Euphoria, and her own career, can foster “compassion, empathy” for young people navigating a complex world. She advocates for more diverse voices behind the camera, emphasizing that identities can influence decisions but “it’s not the center of everyone’s world.”
As she steps into this new chapter, moving past Euphoria‘s Kat Hernandez and confidently embracing the Victoria’s Secret runway, Ferreira continues to be a powerful symbol of self-acceptance and authenticity, inspiring a legion of fans to find their own power in an often-judgmental world.
