This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
*Lifetime’s “Pretty Hurts” explores the glitzy yet cutthroat world of teen beauty pageants while shedding light on a serious health issue: meningococcal disease, commonly known as meningitis.
The film, part of GSK’s Ask2BSure public health campaign, stars Haylie Duff as Julie, a former pageant winner turned mom, and Sarah Borne as her daughter Lauren, who uncovers the harsh realities behind the pageant scene. Inspired by real families affected by meningitis, the storyline highlights the risks of this potentially life-threatening illness, particularly for 16- to 23-year-olds, where behaviors like sharing drinks, kissing, or living in close quarters can spread the bacteria.
Borne, an Atlanta-based actress, brings depth to Lauren, a driven teenager balancing big dreams with the pressures of high school and pageants. “What first drew me to Lauren was I love how ambitious she is,” Borne said. “I love seeing young girls have these big dreams and big goals for themselves. I am that way and so I loved how she wanted to be a doctor and she was working so hard and got such good grades, but she was still like a normal girl.”
Borne hopes audiences take away that “it’s okay to dream big and have ambitions” while also leaving “a little bit more educated about meningitis and the risks that are associated with the disease.”
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To prepare for the role, Borne tapped into her own high school experiences. “I wasn’t a pageant girl, but I did do high school theater, which is not the same, but there is an element of cutthroatness in any sort of performing aspect,” she shared. “I had plenty of people be not very nice to me in high school. So just kind of channeling those moments.” She also read old journals and looked at photos to reconnect with the mindset of being a teenage girl, noting, “Lauren is such a relatable character. I didn’t feel that far off from who I am.”
The film’s meningitis storyline hit close to home for Borne, who researched the disease through her character’s lens. “I did some research, kind of learning what meningitis was, and… I hope that this movie is able to educate people and that they can learn more specifically about meningitis B.”
Collaborating with Haylie Duff was both “inspiring” and felt natural. “Haylie is absolutely incredible,” Borne said. “She was kind of this maternal energy for me. She’s an actress. She’s a director. She’s a mom. She juggles all of these balls and wears all of these hats all of the time.”
Their dynamic shaped Lauren’s journey, with Borne adding, “I’m close with my mom, so this dynamic with me and Haylie was easy for me to lock into.”
As a psychology graduate, Borne sees storytelling as key to health education. “I think it’s pivotal,” she said. “By educating people through a story and letting them have empathy for these characters, it’ll last more than just kind of like spouting facts at people.”
With “Pretty Hurts,” Borne hopes viewers empathize with Lauren, leaving with a deeper understanding of meningitis risks and prevention.
Watch our full conversation with the actress below.
“Pretty Hurts” premieres Saturday, June 28 at 8/7c on Lifetime.
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