Mindy Kaling Says She Hesitated to Share 2016 Throwback Photos ‘Because I Look Different’: ‘Wonder If Anyone Else Can Relate’

Mindy Kaling is hesitantly joining the 2016 social media trend, where people share throwback photos from that year.

On Thursday, Jan. 15, the Mindy Project alum, 46, posted a series of pictures of herself on social media from 10 years ago as part of a viral challenge where people online are calling 2026 the new 2016.

Kaling revealed in her caption, though, that she almost chose not to. “I saw this 2016 trend and loved it and almost didn’t post because I look different,” she wrote beneath her Instagram Carousel, adding, “But these pics are too fun not to share.”

Kaling continued, “(I wonder if anyone else can relate lol) but I loved this time and all my memories from then, so had to post! Enjoy!!!!”

Her upload was filled with throwback pics from a decade ago, mostly of her on set.

The Ocean’s 8 actress has spoken openly about how her appearance has changed in recent years, telling PEOPLE in a May 2023 interview that she wears workout clothes all day and runs 20 miles a week to stay in shape. 

“I’m feeling really confident in my body these days, which is not something that I’ve been able to say for my whole life, unfortunately,” the Never Have I Ever creator said while discussing the launch of her Mindy x Andie Swim Collection.

She added that the lifestyle change left her feeling “great.”

“I know people are really interested in my body and the changes in my body, and I think it’s flattering and sometimes it’s just a little much, so I don’t try to tune it in too much,” Kaling told PEOPLE. “The truth is that I spend so much time and energy trying to be healthy.”

In 2015, she released a book titled Why Not Me? in which she discussed how she views her body, and cringed at the thought of being called curvy.

“I absolutely do try to conform to normal standards of beauty. I am just not remotely successful at it,” an excerpt read.

She later wrote about seeing herself included in a magazine that featured “Curvy Celebs We Adore!” and feeling panicked after seeing actresses who were “much bigger than me.”

“I’m not proud of the moment, but it’s an example of when I, too, have fallen victim to my own insecurities,” Kaling said.

The Inside Out actress also spoke to PEOPLE in May 2022 about why it took her a long time to let go of losing weight for vanity reasons.

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“I’ve tried really hard to let go of this idea of losing weight for vanity reasons and really trying to think of how I can be healthy,” Kaling said, adding that her version of healthy “is working out, moving my body a lot [and] keeping hydrated.”

“And that’s taken a long time to kind of shed those old ideas of working out,” she said.