YEM attends Popsugar Playground in NYC

The 2nd annual POPSUGAR Play/Ground took place this weekend at Pier 94 in NYC. Some of Hollywood’s biggest names were there to attend the event, including Camila Mendes and the cast of This Is Us. YEM was there in NYC to bring our readers live coverage from the show. Check out our coverage here!

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The morning was rounded out by an uplifting panel, “Power Your Evolution,” which saw actress Mandy Moore get candid about failure and nerves in a discussion moderated by her This Is Us co-star Susan Kelechi Watson. Mandy talked about her recent experiences with hiking, which includes her recent trip to climb Mount Everest.

Mandy also talked about her return to the music studio. She is writing and recording new songs, and collaborating with her husband. And she said her favorite lyrics in her new music are “Forgiveness is not a favor.”

Susan asked Mandy the question, “Who is the woman you are becoming and what should we know about her?” Mandy thought for a moment and then responded by saying, “I am becoming a force by my own definition.” On the topic of wellness, Mandy also told the audience, “There’s no substitute for time and the wisdom and clarity that comes with it.”

The day continued with another This Is Us star, Milo Ventimiglia, and actress Amanda Seyfried, who appear together in the upcoming film The Art of Racing in the Rain. Ventimiglia and Seyfried were joined by adoptable puppies as part of a partnership with the Best Friends Animal Society.

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Plus the spirit of Pride Month was alive with a panel hosted by charitable partner GLAAD bringing together some of the biggest voices in the LGBTQ+ community: Nico Tortorella (Actor, Younger), Alicia Garza (Principal and Founder, Black Futures Lab), Carmen Carrera (RuPaul’s Drag Race), Brad Goreski (fashion stylist and TV personality), David Burtka (actor and chef) and GLAAD Director of Talent Engagement, Anthony Ramos, who led the conversation.

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Riverdale star Camila Mendes sat for a discussion about empowering one’s own confidence. Mendes said, “It’s scary [being on social media] because. . . You can delete your post, but it’s everywhere. You’ll never escape the choices you make.” She talked about her own battle with an eating disorder, saying, “I never knew I had an eating disorder until my sister had an eating disorder as well. She’s bulimic. My situation was never a comparison, I would purge every once in a while, thinking it’s not a big deal.”

But after being cast as Veronica Lodge on Riverdale, Camila appearance became a topic of conversation in the media. One day during a fitting for Riverdale, Camila snuggled to feel comfortable with her body. “I don’t dress like Veronica (on Riverdale) normally…she always looks perfect. The pressure of playing a character like that made me perceive myself differently.” This led to her talking with a therapist and a nutritionist. And now, Camila said she wants to show her audience what women really look like. And one step at a time, she is changing how Hollywood and social media portray women and their appearances.

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Other key moments from the festival’s first day featured some of Hollywood’s biggest young stars. Sydney Sweeney (HBO’s Euphoria), Peyton List, (Disney Channel’s Jessie), Sasha Pieterse (Pretty Little Liars) joined forces for a panel entitled “Being Your Own Role Model.” The three ladies talked about how they connect with their fans. Sasha is a big Twitter user, since Pretty Little Liars fans use Twitter so often. Peyton occasionally will start friendships with her followers on Instagram. And Sydney said her social media use changes depending on the day – but she really loves getting fanmail! The girls also talked about how their family and friends keep them grounded and inspire them.