'I have a complex about being pale': Emma Roberts admits she gets 'anxious' about her insecurities as it is revealed she will star in a 'Photoshop-free' campaign for Aerie 

She is one of the world's best-known young actresses, and boasts an impressive resume of roles, both on the big and small screens. But despite all that success, American Horror Story star Emma Roberts admits she is still plagued by insecurities about her appearance.

Speaking to People about her upcoming campaign for American Eagle brand Aerie, which, as part of their ongoing #AerieREAL effort, will be totally 'Photoshop-free', the 24-year-old explained that she has had a 'complex' about her pale skin for most of her life, after being taunted about it as a child.

'I definitely have a complex about being pale because I’ve been made fun of my whole life, so I was nervous about that,' the niece of Oscar-winner Julia Roberts said.

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Photoshop-free: Emma Roberts is set to star in a new campaign for American Eagle brand Aerie, which will be completely unretouched. Last month she shared this image from the shoot on her Instagram account

Photoshop-free: Emma Roberts is set to star in a new campaign for American Eagle brand Aerie, which will be completely unretouched. Last month she shared this image from the shoot on her Instagram account

Strike a pose: The 24-year-old American Horror Story star explained that, despite having a number of insecurities about her body, she felt completely 'confident' about the shoot

Strike a pose: The 24-year-old American Horror Story star explained that, despite having a number of insecurities about her body, she felt completely 'confident' about the shoot

'When I was a kid, everyone would be like, "Your legs are so pale! I can’t believe you’re wearing a dress!" And I would get so embarrassed. I would get spray tans, and I look back at those photos now, and I just think: "Oh my goodness, you’re orange." 

'I would tell my younger self to stop spray-tanning so much. Just own it.'

In spite of her insecurities, Emma couldn't have felt more confident and happy about her Aerie shoot - which came as something of a surprise to her, particularly as she didn't have the 'safety net' of knowing her images would be Photoshopped or edited in order to look perfect and flaw-free.

'I've actually never felt more confident and comfortable on a set - which is amazing, because you don't have that safety net,' she told Refinery 29

Pampered: Emma hopes that her campaign images help to inspire the younger generation to realize that you don't need to rely on filters and Photoshop in order to appear beautiful 

Pampered: Emma hopes that her campaign images help to inspire the younger generation to realize that you don't need to rely on filters and Photoshop in order to appear beautiful 

Sister, sister: The actress has a 14-year-old sister, and revealed that her younger sibling helped to encourage her to take on the Photoshop-free shoot

Sister, sister: The actress has a 14-year-old sister, and revealed that her younger sibling helped to encourage her to take on the Photoshop-free shoot

'But I saw the photos and was like, you know what? This is great - this is just me, in clothes I feel good in, being who I am.'

Emma hopes that her campaign images help to show a younger generation of women that they don't need to rely on Instagram filters or photo-editing apps in order to 'prove' their beauty to the world. 

As an older sister to a 14-year-old, the actress admits she knows how much pressure many young women feel to look 'perfect' all the time - particularly when they are comparing their own looks to those of the 'perfect' women they see on social media.

'I always think of my little sister - she's 14, and when I told her I was doing these ads, she freaked out,' Emma added to Refinery 29. 

Moving on: Emma split from her fiancee and former American Horror Story co-star Evan Peters last month, after a three-year relationship. The pair last starred together in the fourth season of the series (pictured)

Moving on: Emma split from her fiancee and former American Horror Story co-star Evan Peters last month, after a three-year relationship. The pair last starred together in the fourth season of the series (pictured)

Pucker up: The pair played love interests in the third season of the popular show (pictured)

Pucker up: The pair played love interests in the third season of the popular show (pictured)

I scream, you scream: Emma is next set to star in the upcoming TV thriller Scream Queens, which is scheduled to premiere in the fall

I scream, you scream: Emma is next set to star in the upcoming TV thriller Scream Queens, which is scheduled to premiere in the fall

'It's important for me to be a part of this, because I see how hard it is for girls my sister's age with social media, and feeling like they need to look a certain way. I want to promote the idea that it's okay to look like yourself - you don't have to Photoshop your Instagrams!' 

Emma, who split from her fiancee and former American Horror Story co-star Evan Peters after a a three-year relationship last month, added that, 'just like any other girl', she occasionally feels anxious about her physical appearance, and worries that she isn't 'doing enough' or that she 'needs to work out more'. 

She explained that 'the way actors and celebrities are presented can be so unrealistic', saying that she hopes to present herself in a different, more relatable light.  

And while she had to keep the details of her Aerie photoshoot under wraps to begin with, Emma, who is set to star in upcoming TV thriller Scream Queens this fall, happily shared a few sneaky shots from the day - as well as a video of herself being made up while posing on a sofa in a bra top and shirt.  

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