A self-actuated structure, such as an antenna structure, is provided that can be stowed in a compact manner and can be deployed in a self-actuated fashion. The self-actuated structure includes a flexible skin, a boom extending thereacross and rings about which the flexible skin can be folded such that a payload volume is defined therewithin. The self-actuated structure also has a plurality of ribs extending parallel to the boom that cooperate with the flexible skin to define a number of channels extending between the boom and an edge of the flexible skin. The structure also includes a plurality of self-deploying stiffeners disposed within respective channels. In this regard, the stiffeners can have an unbiased relaxed shape, such as a “U” shape, in the absence of external forces and a biased shape, such as a flat shape, upon the application of external bias forces. As such, the application of external bias forces, such as by cables interconnecting the rings and an outermost rib, can cause the stiffeners to assume a biased shape, i.e., a flat shape, by moving the structure into the first position, typically a stowed position, while the removal of external bias forces allows the stiffeners to assume the unbiased relaxed shape, which moves the structure into the second position, typically a deployed position.