Love Island 2018 contestant Laura Crane has opened up about her experiences with bulimia.
Speaking to Stab Magazine, the 23-year-old reality star confirmed that she had the eating disorder between the ages of 16 and 21.
“I went in [Love Island] to prove to myself that I’ve come a long way,” Laura told the magazine.
“Now that it’s over, I wanted to tell my journey before going on the show. That I had bulimia and an eating disorder since I was 16.”
“Being a surfer and travelling the world and modelling put all these pressures on me as a girl growing up in that industry,” Laura added. “Which, don’t get me wrong, it is an amazing way to grow up, but it does weigh on you.”
Laura continued by explaining that having an eating disorder “f**ks you up in the head and it shows”.
“You can’t control things and when you feel that out of control, it becomes the only thing you have control over,” she explained. “So you just hang onto it. It’s hard to let go, but once you do you get your life back.”
Laura added that she feels much happier with her body image now, saying: “I think in time I’ve grown up and realized that it’s important to cherish the way my body is.
“I’m built like this because of surfing, and that’s what I love to do.”
And Laura, who coupled up with Jack Fowler in the Love Island villa, also opened up about the effect that social media can have on people.
“No-one knows what people are actually going through, you might write a comment on someone’s profile and think nothing of it. Like, ‘Ha-Ha. Look what I just commented on a photo’,” she explained.
“It doesn’t matter how many followers you have, or what life you live. You never know what someone’s journey is.
“I think for me, I just wanted to share that we’re all in this together – whether you’re traveling the world or at school or work and not stoked on your life. A lot of people are going through the same thing.”
Beat promotes awareness and understanding of eating disorders, also challenging inaccurate stereotypes and stigma. Find out more at Beat’s website. Beat’s helpline for those aged 18 and over is 0808 801 0677, and there’s also a dedicated Youthline for those under 18 – 0808 801 0711.
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