Surprising Stories from the Set of The Facts of Life

During breaks in filming, The Facts of Life enforced harsh and contradictory expectations on its cast. Lisa Whelchel was sent to a “fat farm” during a couple of hiatuses because, as the show’s designated “pretty one,” producers felt she was gaining too much weight.

At the same time, Mindy Cohn was told she was becoming too thin because she was labeled the “fat one.” To preserve that image, she was forced to wear baggy clothing. The situation exposed how rigid and damaging TV beauty standards were, especially for young actresses growing up under constant scrutiny.