The glitz and glamour of the Actor Awards red carpet often focus on designers and diamonds, but Tracy Vilar decided to use her spotlight for something much more personal this year. The star of the hit HBO Max series “The Pitt” caught everyone’s eye not just for her stunning look, but for a small, meaningful accessory that sparked a massive conversation online.
Vilar, known to fans as the sharp-witted ward clerk Lupe Perez, proudly wore an American Heart Association red dress pin to the SAG-AFTRA ceremony and gala. The simple gesture was part of her new mission to bring attention to cardiovascular health, a topic that has hit her family incredibly hard.
As photos of the actress circulated on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, fans quickly began praising the star for using her platform to discuss a “real-world issue” amidst the Hollywood festivities.
A Heartbreaking Family History
For Vilar, the red dress pin wasn’t just a fashion choice; it was a tribute to the loved ones she has watched struggle. In a candid red carpet interview, she revealed the devastating toll heart disease has taken on her relatives. One of her grandfathers passed away following a stroke, and she lost both an aunt and a great aunt to heart attacks.
The actress also shared the “nerve-racking” experience of seeing another aunt undergo open-heart surgery to repair a leaky valve. “It is not comfortable seeing a relative go through heart surgery,” Vilar admitted. “It changes people. It changes families.”
The “Maid” and “House” alum confessed that she wasn’t always as vigilant about her own health as she is today. “I just went for a checkup and everything is OK, but I am on it,” she shared. “I get it. I wasn’t taking it seriously and now I am taking it seriously.”
Joining the “Go Red” Movement
Vilar has officially teamed up with the American Heart Association to promote “Go Red for Women,” a program specifically designed to bridge the awareness gap regarding women’s heart health. The statistics she is fighting against are staggering: cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women in the U.S., yet only about half of women realize it is their greatest health threat.
“We go, ‘OK, everybody, we’re all eating well. We’re juicing. Let’s go!'” Vilar said of the shift in her family’s lifestyle. “You take things for granted, but then when things happen you’re so scared. That is why I wanted to be here for the cause.”
Nicole Scherzinger Joins the Fight
Vilar isn’t the only star speaking out. The movement has seen a recent wave of celebrity support, including a deeply emotional revelation from Tony winner Nicole Scherzinger. At a recent AHA event in New York City, Scherzinger opened up about her own mother’s survival story.
“She has a mechanical heart,” the former Pussycat Doll revealed to a stunned audience, explaining that her mother suffered a stroke in and required a double valve replacement. “I don’t talk about this because it’s a little sensitive, but I mean if you’re gonna talk about it this is the place to talk about it, right?”
With a person dying from cardiovascular disease every seconds in the U.S., the advocacy of stars like Vilar and Scherzinger is proving to be more than just a trending topic—it’s a vital reminder to their millions of fans to stay “on it” when it comes to their own health.
