Multiple sclerosis is a nerve disease that affects more than 200,000 people every year. The muscle-deteriorating condition, which leaves many requiring a wheelchair, has faced celebrities for decades on end and continues to be advocated for.
Selma Blair was one of the hottest movie stars of the '90s. Her effervescent, bad attitude made her the perfect mean girl, and we just couldn't get enough. But now she's opening up about her struggle with the disease and giving a makeup tutorial to show how much we take for granted simple daily tasks.
Scroll down for some serious inspiration.
If you don't know the name Selma Blair, we're almost positive you know the face.
The actress, who has starred in big-time films such as Cruel Intentions, Hell Boy, and The Sweetest Thing, is no stranger to Hollywood and the movie industry. Her piercing eyes and fierce attitude have made her a star both on and off the big screen.
She was a '90s fixture in films, then joining the ranks of Hollywood's most beloved young sweethearts.
Women wanted to be her, and men wanted to be with her. Her monotone voice paired with her sweet yet sassy demeanor made her one of the most sought-after actresses of the decade. Remember Vivian Kensington from Legally Blonde? Yep, that was her.
Is it all coming back yet?
She played Elle Woods' arch nemesis turned bestie who was giving us serious ice queen vibes. The role catapulted her career, and she was the fabulous, chic, and well-to-do Legally Blonde villain that we loved to hate. But more secretly loved her than hated her. I mean, that character development!
But recently it hasn't been her work in film that's made headlines. It's her multiple sclerosis diagnosis.
A little over a month ago, Blair revealed that she's been living with multiple sclerosis for years. The 46-year-old first began noticing symptoms in 2011 and was finally formally diagnosed in 2018. Her first red-carpet appearance after her diagnosis was at this year's Academy Awards.
Almost immediately following her diagnosis, she teamed up with other celebs living with MS, like Montel Williams, to continue to bring awareness to the disease.
"Meeting of the minds. #greatminds. #montelwilliams. This is a force right here. @montel_williams#msawarenessmonth," Blair wrote in an Instagram caption. Williams was formally diagnosed with MS 20 years ago in 1999 and has been one of the disease's biggest celebrity advocates ever since.
In her fight to continue to spread the word, Blair just revealed a daily struggle she faces that most of us take for granted: putting on makeup.
"I couldn’t make this get onto my ig story cause… I don’t know. But here is my solution to applying makeup with a lack of fine motor skills. #laugh and feel free to reapply my makeup. #makeuptutorial #real," Blair shared. She took a large powder brush to her skin to demonstrate her inability to more precisely apply makeup. The post resulted in thousands of comments of praise.
The mother of one has proven to be a true fighter.
Blair said in an interview with Vanity Fair that her flare-ups began following the birth of her son in 2011, leading her to seek help over the past decade. The disease, which is caused by nerve damage, is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain and between the brain and body.
Her fight to bring awareness isn't slowing down anytime soon.
"What part of the brain looks like an incredibly precious face of a #cheetah ? #mri. The glowing bits are part of the stuff that makes me feel so different. #christmaslights#activelesions. I love seeing images of my brain. I want to see. I want to see everything I can. #msawarenessmonth#beautifultrauma," the actress shared on Instagram recently.
And though the disease may not have a cure, Blair isn't letting it slow her down.
Take a trip to her Instagram and you'll see photo after photo of Blair on the move. When she's not jet-setting, she's posting motivational captions while enjoying nature, or hanging out with her son. She's showing us how she's a superwoman in more ways than one.
For now, catch Blair styling with her cane, spreading the word about the disease that affects more than 200,000 people a year.
It's celebrities like her that continue to destigmatize the diseases that are rarely spoken about. For more information about multiple sclerosis and how to help in the fight to end it, visit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
