Leah Pipes has long captivated audiences with her versatile acting and undeniable charisma. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Pipes stepped into the limelight in 2001 with a role on the hit show Angel, marking the start of a career that would span an impressive array of roles across television and film
With standout performances in Life Is Wild, the slasher film Sorority Row, and the fan-favorite CW series The Originals, Pipes solidified her reputation as a dynamic and compelling actress.
Her journey continued with roles in projects like Lost at Home, Disney Channel's Pixel Perfect, and the indie hit Fingerprints. From crime dramas like Crossing Jordan and Law & Order: Los Angeles to romantic leads in films such as Musical Chairs—a touching story about wheelchair ballroom dancing—Pipes' ability to transform and shine in diverse roles is undeniable. Off-screen, she tied the knot with actor and musician A.J. Trauth in 2014, marking another significant chapter in her life.
In this exclusive Q&A, she shares insights into her career, the challenges and triumphs behind the scenes, and her journey in both Hollywood and life.
Glamour: Leah, it’s wonderful to sit down with you today. Your relationship with beauty has evolved so much over the years, especially after the pandemic. Can you share with us how that shift came about?
Leah: The pandemic was a strange and difficult time for all of us. But it did give us the space to learn so much about ourselves we may never have had the chance to learn. For me that was the discrepancy between image and self-care. Meaning what I do for others and what I do for myself in terms of beauty. There was awhile there where I basically became The Dude from Big Lebowski. Robe and all. But I came to realize that caring for myself is psychologically healthy for me. Jogging. Yoga. Meditation. Skin routine. Drinking water. These are all things that help me feel better in the experience of my body and my life. The focus has become enhancing my own experience of self rather than coming across a certain way.
Glamour: You’ve spoken about embracing your flaws and celebrating diversity in beauty. How do you think society can move towards a more inclusive and accepting definition of beauty?
Leah: I think our societal definition of beauty is moving in the right direction in terms of inclusivity. When I was growing up beauty standards were frankly unhealthy. I feel for my younger self. I never felt thin enough. It makes me sad how much my desire for “thigh gap” kept me from enjoying having a booty! We’re all so unique. And our bodies are all different, and also in constant flux. For me, trying to live up to some standard of perfection is a recipe for misery. Being gentle with myself through it all is just easier I’ve found. Especially the week before my period. I’m gonna to eat pizza and ice cream no matter what. I’m bored of shaming myself for it.
Glamour: During the pandemic, self-care became a focal point for many people. How has self-care become more central in your own beauty routine?
Leah: Ive found self care has become more about the psychological benefits than the physical. And if we’re being honest I’m not always the best at caring for myself. But that’s probably when I need the most understanding. Maybe sometimes self-care is just caring about where you’re at and how you’re feeling. Even when you’re not feeling so great. Maybe especially then. I’d like to believe it’s okay not to feel at your best all the time. Having tenderness for yourself in those moments is peak self care in my opinion. Also a face mask.
Glamour: Many people still feel pressure to look a certain way to meet societal expectations. What advice would you give to those struggling with self-image and feeling like they need to conform?
Leah: To anymore struggling with self image I want you to know I would give you the biggest mama bear hug if I could. I know that feeling. It’s the worst. And it’s a lie! Societal expectations is just a bunch of outside noise we internalize as our own expectations we put on ourselves. But you get to choose how you feel about yourself. I mean it. I’ve struggled with intense self loathing through out the years. And every time I look back on myself in those moments and think… “Why was I being so hard on myself?” To me, the most beautiful people are those who love being in their own skin unconditionally. Which is something I’ve found super elusive to achieve, unfortunately. But I can’t think of anything more worth fighting for.
Glamour: You’ve hinted at launching your own beauty brand. What can you say about it? And when can we expect this to happen?
Leah: I can’t say much as I’m pretty early in the process. But the idea of a beauty brand that helps us embrace our flaws rather than strive for perfection is something I’d love to see more of.
Glamour: It sounds like the idea that you have for your beauty brand is about much more than just products. How does it align with your philosophy of embracing natural beauty and self-acceptance?
Leah: That Venn Diagram is a circle! I like to see the beauty world as the self care world. And I want to promote unconditional self-care.
Glamour: As an actress, you’ve been in the spotlight for years. How has your experience in Hollywood influenced your perspective on beauty and the way you want your brand to resonate with others?
Leah: When I’m at my best as a performer what I look like has nothing to do with it. But that hasn’t always been the case. One of the first shows I starred in I got that dreaded phone call from my manager “the network wants you to lose weight.” I was 18. (And for the record I was so upset by it I gained like 15 pounds.) And my performance suffered. Being on set is my favorite place in the world and I wasn’t able to enjoy it as much as I could have if I wasn’t so focused on what I looked like. I wish I could go back in time and give myself the support I needed in that moment. To shift my focus to the parts of that experience that mattered.
The idea of a beauty brand that celebrates all women of all ages and body types at all times of the month is my way of giving my teenage self the support she needed.
Glamour: What message do you hope to send through your upcoming beauty line, particularly to young women who may struggle with accepting their own beauty?
Leah: You are allowed to feel beautiful at any time. Because you genuinely are. Always.
Glamour: You’ve worn many hats in your career—actress, producer, and now entrepreneur. How do you balance these roles, and what excites you most about this new chapter?
Leah: It’s so interesting entering into a more business minded era. I’ve always been the kooky artist in a family of business people so it’s a bit of an identity crisis! But I’m fortunate to have so many brilliant business minds around me. I’m a small fry in comparison to them. I love the idea of putting together projects and brands that reflect the message I want to contribute to society. Not that I have all that answers or anything. I just like the idea of maybe making an impact that means something to me personally.
Glamour: Lastly, what can we look forward to with your beauty brand? Any sneak peeks into what we can expect? And what’s in store for Leah Pipes next?
Leah: Well, I can tell you as someone with the most fickle skin you could imagine. I mean truly I break out in some inexplicable rash or have some weird dry patch to contend with at all times. So the focus will be on embracing our flaws and problem solving rather than achieving some arbitrary idea of “perfect”. Because, personally, I’m nothing if not hopelessly flawed. And maybe that’s the beauty of me!
Team credits:
Talent: Leah Pipes @leahmariepipes10
PR & Executive Director: Alessio Filippelli @ale_ssiofilippelli
Photographer: Jesse Lirola @jesselirola
Styled by: Raquel Deriane @therockyd
Assistant stylist: Seth Pokrywka @seth.pokrifka
Glam: Rachael Vang @rachaelvang
Recent stories by:
