#12: The Dark Side of Judy Garland’s Stardom

At just 17, Judy Garland enchanted audiences in The Wizard of Oz, her voice and presence embodying youthful innocence and hope. But behind the Technicolor magic, Hollywood’s grip on her life was suffocating. Studio executives controlled her diet, enforcing strict restrictions from the age of 13, fueling a lifelong struggle with body image.

Pressured into an abortion and fed a relentless cycle of amphetamines to keep up with grueling schedules, she was addicted by 16. The same pills that kept her working ultimately led to her downfall, a heartbreaking reminder of the industry’s brutal cost of manufactured perfection.