The Celebrity Truth

Melissa Joan Hart has posed for the cover of People magazine in a bikini to show off her new 113-lb figure, saying she feels “amazing” after dropping more than 40 pounds following two pregnancies.

“I still read blogs about me discussing how fat I’ve become… everyone still thinks I’m huge,” says Hart, whose post-pregnancy body was the subject of cruel internet attacks after she gave birth to sons Mason, 3, and Braydon, 14 months. “But I’m not anymore!”

The former Sabrina, the Teenage Witch star, who is married to Course of Nature lead singer Mark Wilkerson, 32, says the public has grown accustomed to seeing celebrities get back in their skinny jeans mere weeks after giving birth.

“There are enormous pressures put on you in Hollywood,” she says.

“[But] it didn’t happen by magic – it was as hard for me as it would be for anyone else.”

She spent 14 months getting back into shape, as she “didn’t want to take any time away from spending it with my sons.”

Today, Hart says, “I feel amazing! I had to prove to myself that I could do it. I had to give it a go!”

She nods to close friend Jaime Pressly, actress and mom to 2-year-old Dezi, as a point of inspiration to drop the weight, as well as her own mom Paula, who gave birth to seven children “and is tiny!” Hart says.

“I realized I didn’t have to be heavy just because I have kids.”

Photo: People.

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