Millie Bobby Brown is no longer the wide-eyed, buzzcut kid who burst onto the scene as Eleven in Stranger Things. She’s 20 now—a successful actress, author, entrepreneur, and married woman—living her life unapologetically in the public eye. But for some corners of the internet, her evolution is a bitter pill to swallow.
Case in point: a seemingly innocent series of Instagram selfies shared earlier this week. Brown, posing with her petite Louis Vuitton x Murakami tote, captioned the post “me and my mini.”
Instead of admiration, she got a firestorm of comments critiquing her appearance. “MILLIE WHAT HAPPENED,” one person wailed. Another chimed in with, “Millie’s Google history: ‘How to look 65 when you’re 16.’” Others accused her of looking “too old,” wearing “too much makeup,” or even speculated wildly about plastic surgery and pregnancy.
Brown’s response? Short, sharp, and dripping with confidence: “women grow!! not sorry about it :).” Posted to her Instagram Stories, it was a mic-drop moment that reminded everyone she’s done playing the internet’s game.
The Price of Growing Up Famous
Brown’s journey from child star to young woman has been a public spectacle—and not always a kind one. From her early days on Grey’s Anatomy and NCIS to becoming a global sensation on Stranger Things, she’s faced relentless scrutiny. Cyberbullying became a part of her life before most people get their driver’s license.
By 16, she was using her platform to clap back at the constant commentary. In a raw Instagram post on her birthday, she shared a montage of cruel headlines and invasive paparazzi clips. Her message was clear: “Our world needs kindness and support in order for us children to grow and succeed.” The post also carried a defiant undertone: she wouldn’t let the negativity defeat her.
But the scrutiny didn’t stop. Turning 18 brought an avalanche of “gross” commentary. Suddenly, her transition into adulthood became an open invitation for critics to dissect her every move, from red carpet outfits to Instagram captions.
In a candid interview with Allure, she laid bare the confusion of trying to find herself while constantly being told who she should or shouldn’t be. “It’s really hard to be hated on when you don’t know who you are yet,” she admitted.
“Who Do They Need Me to Be?”
For Brown, growing up in the public eye has been like walking a tightrope in heels. Wear a crop top? She’s “trying too hard.” Wear heels? She’s “acting too old.” The absurdity hit a boiling point when, at just 15, she was the subject of inappropriate comments about her cleavage on a red carpet.
“It’s like, ‘OK, I’m going to try being this today,’” she told MTV News. “‘Oh no, I hate that.’ ‘OK, forget that. I’m going to try being this instead.’” The constant feedback loop was exhausting, leading her to question not just how to navigate fame but who she was becoming in the process.
A Voice for Her Generation
Despite the noise, Brown has emerged stronger. She’s used her experiences to shine a light on the challenges young women face—not just in Hollywood, but in a world that’s always eager to knock them down. “Young women are dragged down for many different things,” she told Netflix’s Queue. “If it’s our maturity, the way we dress, the choices we make, we will never be enough. It’s for us to find camaraderie and sisterhood in that. To stand together and say, ‘We are enough.’”
Her recent response to trolls is a testament to that resilience. It’s a reminder that, while the internet may thrive on tearing people down, it’s also a place where allies can rally. Fans flooded the comments on her latest Instagram post with support: “Women do grow and you don’t need to apologize to anyone for it!” one wrote. Another declared, “You’ve grown into such a beautiful woman!!”
The Millie Effect
At just 20, Millie Bobby Brown has lived through more public scrutiny than most people endure in a lifetime. But instead of letting it crush her, she’s turned it into fuel. She’s not just growing up; she’s growing into herself—boldly, unapologetically, and on her own terms.
For the trolls who can’t handle it? They’re just proving her point. Women grow. Get used to it.
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Last modified: January 4, 2025
