Vanessa Hudgens: Nude Photo Scandal Still Haunts Me

Entertainment April 11, 2011 AT 8:25AM
Vanessa Hudgens: Nude Photo Scandal Still Haunts Me Credit: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

If Vanessa Hudgens had her way, the past would stay in the past.

After a third set of nude photos taken in 2007 surfaced online just last month, the 22-year-old actress opened up to The L.A. Times about the effect it's had on her career.

VIDEO: Vanessa sizzles at the Sucker Punch premiere

"It's just silly because I'm a very present person, and that's so in the past," Hudgens said. "The fact that somebody keeps bringing up the past is just selfish. I mean, it sucks. I already released a statement the first time it happened. It's just unfortunate that it keeps reminding people about the past and not the present."

Despite the unauthorized release of the photos, the Sucker Punch actress said she isn't afraid to flaunt her figure in risque costumes on film.

PHOTOS: Other famous Hollywood sex scandals

"A woman's body is a beautiful thing," she reasoned. "There's no reason why we shouldn't, like, be our best in our costumes."

The actress -- who split with Zac Efron, 23, in December 2010 -- credits The Four Agreements, a self-help book penned by a New Age spiritualist, for helping her overcome the scandal.

PHOTOS: Zac Efron through the years

"It has honestly changed me, almost," Hudgens said. "You really have to stay strong, because times get tough. Especially in this business. It's a dog-eat-dog world. There's so many amazing actresses who got taken advantage of."

"A lot of women get walked all over on by not standing up for themselves, and that's just not what I'm about," she continued. "I'm figuring myself out now as a young adult more than I ever have. It's like my eyes are opening and I'm awakening to controlling my future."

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  • April 11, 2011 - 3:09pm Derek Bignell

    With apologise to Bill Meyer: New rule, if you do not want to share pictures of yourself in the buff with the world don't post them on your electronic devices. If you e-mail pictures of yourself in the buff don't be surprised if they surface every few years.

  • April 11, 2011 - 12:16pm Shannon Burmatoff

    Vanessa you should have thought of that before you did it

  • April 11, 2011 - 12:14pm Robert J Costa Jr

    You're cute as a button Vanessa but for the 5000th time, stop with the "haunting me" stuff cuz no one's buying it. In today's society, there's no such thing as bad publicity, just publicity. Most important, please stop acting as if you're so upset by this....cuz you're not.

  • April 11, 2011 - 9:13am Lauren Lipkin

    seems like the break up really took a hard hit on her.

  • April 11, 2011 - 8:53am Lavina Boykin

    Well, kind of just happened so probably gonna haunt you for a while.

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