She may crack jokes for a living, but Margaret Cho knows that struggling with self-esteem is no laughing matter. I sat down with the prolific comedian for Mediaplanet’s 2017 “Body Empowerment” issue, distributed within the weekend edition of the Los Angeles Times.

According to a recent study by Dove, approximately 91 percent of women are unhappy with their bodies and resort to dieting to achieve their ideal body shape. Yet only five percent of women naturally possess the body type often portrayed in the entertainment industry. Margaret Cho is all too familiar with this battle, which is why she is one of many influential women working to reverse these figures.

“I was so sick of judging myself, and sick of being judged for my thighs, my weight, and my looks,” Cho recalls. “I felt like nothing was ever enough.”

“There are no rehearsals in life. You have to go for it.”

Cho is best known for her stand-up routines, through which she critiques social and political problems, especially regarding race and sexuality. She rose to prominence after creating and starring in the ABC sitcom All-American Girl and became an established stand-up comic in the subsequent years. Under the spotlight, Cho endured cycles of denial, anxiety, and depression before making the seemingly simple decision to embrace her flaws.

“It’s really about accepting and loving myself, including whatever is flawed,” she explains, smiling. “There’s no need to care so much about those extra pounds or wrinkles. Happiness is what I try to hang on to.”

One of the biggest keys to Cho’s success is her willingness to tackle difficult topics. Her stand-up material explores a wide spectrum of feminist issues, ranging from eating disorders and consent to politics and cultural stereotypes. Throughout her career, she’s used her voice to inspire fans and followers across the globe to embrace their differences, earning her the nickname the “patron saint of the outsiders.”

“I think it’s a real honor,” she laughs. “I am an outsider, and I’ve always really appreciated being one.”

Recent studies show that seven in ten girls believe that they are not good enough or don’t measure up in some way, whether it be their looks, their performance in school, or in their relationships with friends and family. Cho has learned to use her art to effect positive change for herself and for her fans.

“I love doing stand-up comedy. It’s what I work on very diligently, more than anything else in my life. It’s the most important aspect of my days.”

Cho’s advice for young people who might not love what they see when they look in the mirror? “Get comfortable with your skin. This is what you are, this is it. There are no rehearsals in life. You have to go for it. You have one life and one body.”

Margaret Cho Emerges as a Champion for Body Positivity