Now, despite the difficulties, she feels that she is becoming more confident and stronger. Zsófi Szabo actress, presenter tells honestly about the past fifteen years, the present and the future, in which her new passion, dance, plays an important role.
Zsófi Szabó always strives to do things that make him happy – Jacket AERON
Photo: Norbert Zsólyomi
You recently had a Q&A on your Instagram page. You received most of the questions about your weight loss. When you look back at older recordings and photos, how do you see yourself? How has your dressing style and wardrobe changed after losing weight?
This is a very complex question. When I look back on my twenty-year-old self, I was much more sensitive to what other people thought of me back then. I had a lot of self-doubt, mostly because of my extra pounds, but really it wasn’t just about the weight. I didn’t really understand how deeply my self-esteem is affected by what other people say or think about me.
Now, over thirty-five, I know myself better, I am working hard to process my past traumas. I wasn’t overweight, but I experienced it as a trauma as a teenager. I also had a certain degree of inhibition in experiencing my femininity. Even though I considered myself an attractive girl in everyday life, even though many men courted me, the screen put my self-image in a completely different light. This also affected my dressing style, I dressed more boyishly and sportily and often wore oversized clothes.
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Photo: Norbert Zsólyomi
Now that has changed. How do you feel, have you found a style that makes you feel good?
Yes, I am much more confident about my body and how I dress. It was a long journey, but it was worth it. Now I can wear any clothes with confidence because I feel good in everything. This self-confidence is not only due to losing weight, but also to finding what inspires me in life.
No two people are the same, so no two life paths are the same. Everyone has to find what can help, and the most important thing is to never give up on the path to self-knowledge. Let everyone finally believe in themselves that they are beautiful! You, me too, everyone is beautiful and you are good just the way you are! You don’t have to be thin to be confident, it’s enough to find your own style and not what other people think about you. The main thing is to have fun! I experienced and learned this myself.
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Do you follow trends better than before?
I think I’ve always preferred simplicity, and that’s still the case. I follow the principle of less is more, which means that I like restrained pieces when it comes to clothes and accessories. I don’t like big jewelry, I prefer to wear a delicate bracelet or necklace.
When it comes to clothes, I like to dress playfully and try different styles, but I always come back to simple, elegant pieces. Now I know I can wear anything because it’s not the clothes that define me, it’s how I feel. This confidence gives you enormous freedom.
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Photo: Norbert Zsólyomi
For years, you have been living your life very consciously, protecting your privacy, and you are very selective about which requests you respond to. In the Dancing with the Stars show, we can get to know a completely new side of you. Did you immediately say yes to the invitation?
Yes, I expected it, because when I transferred to TV2, the program was already on the air, and I knew that if the opportunity came, I would take it. But I wasn’t prepared at all. I didn’t take dance lessons, I didn’t want to plan too far in advance, but when the invitation came, I was sure that I wouldn’t say no to this challenge. It’s really interesting because as I get older, I’m looking more and more for situations where I can improve, and Dancing with the Stars is exactly that kind of task.
Did your racing self turn on right away?
Fully! Dancing is really a tough challenge, it tests you in every aspect – not only physically, but also mentally. As a mother, woman and public figure, I often feel that I have to keep my every moment under control in everyday life. Dance, on the other hand, is completely different. I have to surrender myself to the steps, I have to let my movements express my feelings, which is a very difficult task for me.
In recent years, I have created a brutally strong protective shield around myself, I have controlled everything very much – my statements, my appearances, even the feelings I show to the outside world. You can’t hide your emotions in dance, and for me it’s a huge challenge. Now my shield will fall from me, all my wounds and feelings will be there on the stage.
Zsófi Szabó admitted that she used to have a strong lack of self-confidence, mostly because of her extra kilos – Dress STINE GOYA – answear.hu, Shoes ADIDAS
Photo: Norbert Zsólyomi
At one time, you ran a lot, but unfortunately you also had a few injuries, which you always spoke honestly about. How much does dancing require of your body, and how well can you take care of yourself?
Now I pay special attention to warming up and stretching because my body is not as flexible as it used to be. I am very consciously preparing for this physical load, I don’t want to get injured again, as I did before with running or boxing. I also support my body with vitamin infusions so that it can withstand the preparation. In addition, as a mother, I also have a lot of responsibilities, and I also have to be in good shape in Mokka, so it is particularly important to be in good shape both physically and mentally.
It’s really a very stressful period, but it means a lot that I love my job, so it’s much easier, even getting up in the morning is not so tiring, because I enjoy hosting the show. And then the rehearsals, in which my dance partner, Andrei Mangra, who is a real professional, is a huge help. He is a wonderful person, even the tips of his ears convey feelings, he has a huge heart and helps a lot, he is patient, yet a true maximalist like me. I feel that we make a very good couple.
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When life presents you with important decisions, who are the people you can count on for their honest opinion?
My number one advisors are my mother and my brother. We have a very close relationship, no matter what happens to me, I always know that they are by my side. My mom now helps a lot when I drive Mokka, she takes Mendel to school. But I stick to the afternoons, as soon as the rehearsal is over, I rush for it and we write the homework together.
You’ve been on the screen for fifteen years, you’re constantly working. What do you do to maintain your physical, mental and emotional balance despite the amount of noise in your everyday life?
I have had losses and difficult times in my life. In such cases, along with the support of my family, my faith helped me find a way out. Faith was very close to my father. He was the ninth child, and it was important to him that we also receive a Christian, religious education. I went to a Catholic primary school, I was a first communion, we went to mass every Sunday until I graduated, but over time that got worn out.
In recent years, a lot has happened that I didn’t show outwardly, but I felt that I needed a handhold. I got closer to God again, so at the end of every day I have an answer to my fears, terrors, and anxieties. It’s not an extreme thing, it’s just something that’s always been there in my life, now it’s matured again. I read a lot of self-awareness books, I’m interested in manifestation, and I’m a big believer in positive thinking.
What was the most important advice you received from your father?
My father always told me to do what makes me happy. When I was young and decided to dedicate my life to horses, he fully supported it because he saw the dedication in me. I think he knew even then that this journey would only be a part of my life, but he let me find my own happiness.
This advice is with me to this day, it has helped me through difficult times many times. I always strive to do things that make me happy and I consider myself very lucky to live this way. I really love my life!
Photo: Norbert Zsólyomi, Stylist: Szilvia Csillag, Makeup: Enikő Kredits, Hair: Mihály Pazar
