After actress Denise Richards has been repeatedly called too skinny in the tabloids, she defends herself by saying "I have a very healthy lifestyle."

Rumors started flying about Richard's weight issues after her gaunt appearance in recent photographs.  When confronted by Extra on the red carpet for The Disney Music Awards, Denise replied:

"I don't know why lately I've been getting so much flack for it. I have a very healthy lifestyle and I'm busy. I have a daughter who's almost 2 that I carry all the time. She's just under 30 pounds."

Denise doesn't read too much into the tabloid stories, but as a mother she wants to be a good role model for her children, and that's a good enough reason for her to fight the skinny allegations.

"What bothers me is I have three daughters, and I'm such an advocate for health and fitness...in moderation. We eat ice cream all the time. I had grilled cheese before we got here."

The 42-year-old actress who made a guest appearance on the Disney Channel show "Kickin' It," was on the red carpet with daughter Lola, 7, and her best friends, who were excited to meet all of the Disney Channel stars.

In response to the skeletal photos, a friend of Richard's jumped to her defense saying:

"Denise has always been thin. Her whole family is thin. She hasn't changed anything, her work out is still Pilates. But she is literally on the go non-stop. She's a single mom to three active girls. The last few months she has been working a lot and just juggling everything. She has honestly never felt better."

This morning, amidst the thin accusations, Charlie Sheen's ex posted a photo on Instagram as she was getting primped on the set of her new ABC Family series Twisted. She was looking healthy and happy as her long bronzed locks were being styled.

Watch Denise at the Disney Movie Awards and let us know if you agree with tabloids that she looks too thin. We think the 42 year-old-mother looks more gorgeous than starlets half her age!