Amber Riley at the 2011 Golden Globes (left) and at the NAACP Awards on Feb. 17, 2012 (right).
Mario Anzuoni/Reuters/Landov; Jordan Strauss/Wireimage
Glee star Amber Riley turned heads when she stepped out in a blue Theia sequin gown – and showed off a slimmer silhouette! – at the NAACP Image Awards on Feb. 17.The actress tells PEOPLE she decided to revamp her eating habits last July after chronic stomach pains drove her to the doctor.
"I decided I was going to make a change and eat healthier," says Riley, 26, who cut out the fast food and burgers that she says "were attacking my stomach."
After seven months of sticking to a new diet and exercise plan, she has hit a weight loss milestone: "I dropped two dress sizes!"
The red carpet darling also says that getting dolled up for events is a little easier now. "I'm a lot more comfortable in dresses, especially gowns," she says.
On set, Riley's trimmer figure has been causing quite a stir in the costume department. "We had to revamp the wardrobe," she says. "They bought a lot of new clothes for me and we have to take in a lot of my pants and dresses."
But no matter what size she's wearing, the actress has always been a body confident role model. "I've always been comfortable with my size," says Riley. "I just decided it was time to get healthy."