Camila Mendes Reveals She Was Roofied And Sexually Assaulted While In College

The 25-year-old was a freshman at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts when it happened. She recalled the experience to the magazine.

“I got a tattoo after my freshman year,” she began the interview, talking about the ink she has above her ribcage that spells out, "to build a home." She continued, "I had a very, very bad experience; I was roofied by someone who sexually assaulted me.” The tat is a reminder to “strengthen both her sense of self and the environment around her.”

“Whenever I feel like I’m going through something difficult, I think about what I can do physically for myself,” The Perfect Date star added. "I danced for seven years, from age 4 to 11. Then I did musicals as a kid, then so much of acting school is movement classes and connecting your breath to your body. Activity has always been an important part of my life.”

The CW actress also spoke about her bulimia with the publication. “I’ve only recently gotten better. I needed professionals I trusted to tell me things that I didn’t know,” she explained. “When I was a teenager, there were no role models when it came to body positivity—that simply was not a thing. Being thin was the thing.”

Camila added that she wished she had role models growing up and she hopes to be one for young girls struggling through life. “It’s health that’s important, not appearance,” she said. “I make choices that are good for me—and not just in my body—but for my soul, for my mind. And sometimes that’s eating ice cream because I want to eat ice cream.”

If you or someone know needs help, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or visit rainn.org.