From battling substance abuse and eating disorders to facing the heartbreaking loss of her baby, this “Desperate Housewives” actress has endured profound challenges on her journey. Take a closer look at her story of resilience and strength through life’s toughest moments.
She rose to fame as a child actress on “Desperate Housewives” at only six years old, quickly becoming known to audiences as the spunky Juanita Solis. However, behind the scenes, her early years in the spotlight were far from glamorous.
The child star on day one of Melanie Segal’s Teen Choice Lounge on August 6, 2009, in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
While fans adored her on screen, she faced intense scrutiny about her appearance. As the actress grew older, she turned to substances, struggling with addiction that strained her relationships. Now, after years of fighting these personal battles, the child star recently faced yet another heartbreaking loss.
This young actress who brought life to Juanita Solis on “Desperate Housewives” became widely known for her role as the outspoken daughter of Gabrielle Solis, played by Eva Longoria.
The child star and her “Desperate Housewives” on-screen family photographed in 2009. | Source: Getty Images
In a 2023 podcast, she spoke openly about how difficult her time on the show had been. During those years, she was often shamed for her weight, receiving “shocking” reactions to her character.
In her youth, the actress spent hours reading harsh comments on YouTube, TMZ, and other platforms, which took a serious toll on her. Over time, she turned to substances and found herself in a cycle of dependency.
The young actress on the set of “Desperate Housewives” in 2009. | Source: Getty Images
“I mean, I didn’t go a day without smoking for, I wanna say, five or six years. So, it was a huge, huge issue for me, and I never knew just how much of a problem it was […],” she admitted.
Although she struggled with various addictions, she described her dependence on marijuana as her “biggest obsession.” While trapped in the cycle of substance abuse, the actress made countless excuses, telling herself it could be worse.
However, at times, her addiction could reach such worrying levels that she wouldn’t get out of bed and just want to hide from the world.
The actress photographed at Brighton Hall on May 21, 2013, in North Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
The child star’s battle with addiction was compounded by an eating disorder that had affected her since childhood. Her dependence on marijuana only made this struggle worse, as she couldn’t eat without smoking first.
If she couldn’t smoke, she would sometimes go days without eating, a reality she called “very, very dangerous.” Her addiction didn’t only impact her health but began to impact her relationships, especially with her mother, whom she described as her best friend.
Substances had become her closest companion, pulling her away from those around her. “When I realized it started to affect my relationship with not only my friends but specifically my relationship with my mom, that’s when I knew I had to make a change,” the “Desperate Housewives” star revealed.
She committed to recovery and, at 248 days sober, described life as “lighter and more colorful” than it had ever been. The actress noted, “Things are easier,” recounting a trip to New York where, for the first time, she wasn’t held back by dependency.
She said, “I wasn’t panicking because I was tied down to a substance. I wasn’t thinking, ‘Oh, what if I can’t use this? What if I don’t have my crutch?’”
Now free from those concerns, the child star helped others facing similar struggles and found strength in leading by example. She shared, “I have a lot of friends who looked to me and said, ‘Hey, I’m gonna go get help, because I saw that you got help, and it changed your life.’”
