Demi Lovato Gets Real About Becoming The Role Model She Never Had Growing Up

    "Drugs were glamorized, and when I was 12 or 13, nobody was talking about mental illness."

    Morgan Murrell
    by Morgan Murrell

    BuzzFeed Staff

    By remaining completely transparent about her insecurities and battles with drugs and mental health, Demi Lovato has not only empowered herself but also millions of people around the world.

    Jean Baptiste Lacroix / Getty Images

    But in a new interview with InStyle, Demi explains how she feels about becoming the role model she never had growing up.

    "You have to speak out about stuff. You have to use your voice for good. That’s what I think a lot of people are starting to do."

    "I didn’t have anybody who was doing that when I was younger. I grew up in the era of really, really skinny celebrities. That was the look."

    For those who don't know, Demi was bullied at school during her childhood. Her battle with food began after internalizing the words her bullies called her, like "fat" and "whore."

    "It was cool to be seen partying. Drugs were glamorized, and when I was 12 or 13, nobody I looked up to was talking about mental illness."

    In her raw documentary Simply Complicated, Demi revealed she used cocaine for the first time when she was 17 years old and working for Disney. She eventually sought treatment, entering her first rehab center at 18.

    "Nobody was talking about eating disorders. Nobody was talking about cutting. I wanted somebody for my little sister to look up to. I took on that role because I knew it was important."

    And although the role is not always an easy one to take on, the 25-year-old songstress has embraced it. Demi is currently on tour with DJ Khaled and Kehlani, offering free mental health counseling sessions for fans before each show. You're doing great, girl!

    To read Demi Lovato's full interview with InStyle, click here.