The Young and the Restless’ Michelle Stafford Shares Her Real-Life Struggle Raising Her Daughter: ‘It’s Hard, Man’
We doubt there’s a mother reading this who won’t relate to the challenge to which she’s rising.
The Young and the Restless‘ Michelle Stafford (Phyllis) was aware when she accepted the Women Supporting Women Instagram challenge that “we aren’t supposed to write anything.” But she’d been tagged by some “amazing women friends,” among them Vinessa Antoine (formerly Jordan on General Hospital), Terri Conn (formerly Katie on As the World Turns) and The Good Witch‘s Catherine Bell — and had something that she needed to get off her chest.
So, after posting a suitable-for-framing black-and-white portrait of herself, the actress put up a second image, of her 10-year-old daughter, Natalia. In the caption, the Daytime Emmy winner wrote, “Let’s not all forget to impart our strength and wisdom on our next generation. Raising girls who are strong, intelligent, kind, loving and fair.
“Man, I’m trying,” she continued. “I try to keep ahead of the influence of social media and peer pressure. It’s hard man… really hard.”
But there can be no doubt that Stafford will bring up Natalia to be a force to be reckoned with. “It’s tough out there for our younger girls… but us women, we are strong naturally, and let’s not forget… it does take a village,” wrote Stafford, whose son, Jameson, turns 5 in October. “I support any and every woman out there trying to raise their babies in today’s world. I feel you, and I got you, girls.”
While you’re here, you might also enjoy the below photo gallery of the cast of The Young and the Restless.
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<p>Melissa Claire Egan plays Young and Restless’ Chelsea Newman. She came to Genoa City in 2011 as Chelsea Lawson.</p>
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<p>Peter Bergman plays Genoa City businessman Jack Abbott. Bergman joined the cast as the Jabot bigwig in 1989.</p>
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<p>Sasha Calle plays Lola Rosales on Young and Restless. Her character joined the canvas in 2018.</p>
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<p>Tracey Bregman joined Young and Restless in 1983 as Lauren Fenmore, heir to the Fenmore’s line of boutiques. She is now Lauren Fenmore Baldwin and still runs her company.</p>
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<p>Tyler Johnson joined the Young and Restless cast in 2019 as Theo Vanderway. The newcomer soon learned he was connected to a historical Genoa City family, the Brooks.</p>
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<p>Sharon Case joined Young and Restless as Sharon Collins and her character married into the wealthy Newman family. Case has been a cast member since 1994.</p>
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<p>Sean Dominic landed on Young and Restless in 2019. He took on the role of a recast Nate Hastings Jr.</p>
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<p>Mishael Morgan was first cast on Young and Restless as Hilary Curtis (Ann Turner) in 2013. When her character was killed in a car wreck, she later returned as Amanda Sinclair.</p>
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<p>Michelle Stafford originated the role of Phyllis Summers on Young and Restless in 1994. She left and did a stint on General Hospital before resuming her role in 2019.</p>
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<p>Michael Mealor plays Kyle Abbott on Young and Restless. He joined the canvas as a recast in 2018.</p>
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<p>Melody Thomas Scott first appeared as Nikki Reed on Young and Restless in 1979. Her character is now the iconic Nikki Newman, wife of Genoa City mogul, Victor.</p>
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<p>Melissa Ordway took over the role of Abby Newman in 2013. The character was formerly known as Abby Carlton and believing Brad Carlton was her father when it was actually Victor Newman.</p>
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<p>Mark Grossman was cast as bad boy Adam Newman in 2019. His character returned to Genoa City after it was believed he had died in an explosion.</p>
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<p>Lauralee Bell was just a teen when she began appearing in 1983 on Young and Restless, the show co-created by her parents, Bill and Lee Phillip Bell. Though she was first known as ‘Cricket’ Blair, she now goes by Christine Williams.</p>
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<p>Kate Linder joined Young and Restless in 1982. She still plays Esther Valentine to this day.</p>
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<p>Joshua Morrow joined Young and Restless in 1994. He plays Nick Newman, son of the iconic Victor and Nikki Newman.</p>
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<p>Jordi Vilasuso was cast on Young and Restless in 2018. He plays Rey Rosales, a police officer, and unofficial head of the Rosales family.</p>
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<p>Jess Walton has played the role of feisty Jill Foster Abbott on Young and Restless since 1987. Her character became known for her relationships with the Abbott men, John and Jack, and for her rivalry with Katherine Chancellor.</p>
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<p>Jason Thompson left General Hospital in 2016 and moved to Young and Restless. He plays Billy Abbott, son of late Jabot founder John Abbott and Jill Foster Abbott.</p>
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<p>Hunter King plays Nick Newman and Phyllis Summers’ daughter on Young and Restless. She debuted as Summer Newman in 2012.</p>
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<p>Greg Rikaart joined Young and Restless as troubled Kevin Fisher in 2003. These days his character is a family man.</p>
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<p>Eric Braeden first appeared as Genoa City’s Victor Newman in 1980. What was supposed to be a short term role turned into an iconic soap opera character.</p>
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<p>Elizabeth Hendrickson joined Young and Restless as Chloe Mitchell in 2008. The actress appeared on General Hospital for a time before returning to the role she originated.</p>
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<p>Doug Davidson has been with the cast of Young and Restless since 1978. His character Paul Williams was a Genoa City teen who became a private detective before eventually being made chief of police.</p>
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<p>Donny Boaz has been on the Young and Restless canvas since 2019. He plays a recast Phillip ‘Chance’ Chancellor III and his character is involved with Abby Newman.</p>
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<p>Christian LeBlanc was added to the Young and Restless cast in 1991. He plays attorney Michael Baldwin and is married to Lauren Fenmore Baldwin.</p>
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<p>Christel Khalil joined the Young and Restless in 2002. She aired as Lily Winters until 2005, left, then returned to the role in 2006.</p>
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<p>Camryn Grimes first began appearing on Young and Restless in 1997 as young Cassie Johnson, who later became Cassie Newman after being found by her birth mother, Sharon Newman, and adopted by her husband, Nick Newman. Cassie died, and was occasionally seen as a vision, but Grimes returned in 2014 as a Cassie lookalike, who was later determined to be her twin, Mariah Copeland.</p>
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<p>Cait Fairbanks landed her Young and Restless role in 2017. She plays Tessa Porter, a singer and songwriter, who went from down on her luck to touring nationally.</p>
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<p>Bryton James debuted on Young and Restless in 2004. He plays Devon Hamilton, a former street kid turned billionaire who was adopted by Neil and Drucilla Winters.</p>
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<p>Brytni Sarpy joined the Young and Restless cast in 2019. Her character, Elena Dawson, is a medical professional who runs a clinic and lives with Devon Hamilton.</p>
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