Hairspray Star Loses 60 Lbs., But Marissa Jaret Winokur Says She Was Happy At Size 14

News that the Hairspray star who lost 60 lbs. no longer has the trait that in part scored her the role of Tracy Turnblad in the stage reboot of John Waters’ film classic may come as a surprise, but Marissa Jaret Winokur assures fans that her stunning reduction in dress sizes wasn’t for esthetic reasons.

Now that the Hairspray star lost 60 lbs., she wouldn’t be quite a good fit for “Hefty Hideaway” spokeswoman Tracy — whose larger figure was a central plot point to the film and stage adaptations’ themes of acceptance and inner worth versus misconceptions about outside appearances. (And for overweight young women in the 80s and 90s, the movie was an honest but poignant representation of body acceptance in a time where the concept was not yet mainstream, providing a pop culture example of a plus-size woman who dethrones her thinner rival and gets the guy.)

In keeping with Hairspray‘s consistent messages, however, Winokur explains immediately that it wasn’t for looks-related reasons that she dropped excess weight — rather, the Broadway star says, her doctor advised her to diet for health reasons.

TV Guide quotes Winokur:

“When I was a size 14, I was super happy… The Doctor [was] saying I’m not healthy…so I need[ed] to change my way of life. But, interestingly enough, there are moments in my life [where] I felt more comfortable in that body sometimes than in this body.”

Even at a smaller than average size two, however, the Hairspray star says that while she lost 60 lbs., she still isn’t considered thin by Hollywood standards. Winokur adds:

“I definitely have moments where I’ll go to an audition or a meeting and girls are just so much skinnier… I’m still in Hollywood. I still will be considered a chubby actress.”

The Insider quotes the Hairspray star as admitting:

“I still have ’em because I’m sure I’ll gain it all back. I know it’s horrible, but here’s the thing… my fear is, what do you do? I have jeans that fit me great and what if I gain it back? I need those jeans.”

Do you think Winokur’s 60 lb. weight loss is an improvement, or did you love her look in Hairspray, too?