Demi Lovato has every reason to feel proud of her success. At just 20 years old, she has four hit albums under her belt, a seat on the X Factor USA judging panel and has become a role model for teens on both sides of the Atlantic. The road hasn't been easy though, and this week Demi spoke candidly about her struggle with an eating disorder, and revealed how her fans have kept her on track.
On Wednesday, Demi sat down for a chat with Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills during a visit to London to promote her fourth album, Demi. With a legion of fans waiting outside the BBC studios, the popular Heart Attack singer paid homage to her supporters as she spoke openly about her ongoing battle. "My fans have helped me in so many ways," she said on air. "One, because whenever I have struggled and thought about going back to bad habits, like anyone does that struggles with an eating disorder, there's been times when I have contemplated what am I really doing. Do I really have a problem?"And then I think to myself, yeah my fans are holding my accountable and I have to stay strong for them.
"I've been honest about the things that I've been through and because of that a lot of people have learnt from my mistakes and the things I've been open about," she said during the interview. "I think that's what's brought me and my fans closer together."
After the on-air chat, Demi made sure she reciprocated some of the love shown to her by her British fans by spending time chatting to them and signing autographs outside the Radio 1 offices. The Skyscraper singer was swamped as the crowd clamored to spend just a few moments with her, and she happily obliged, ignoring the British rain to pose for photographs and talk to her many admirers.Being a role model to young people is something Demi takes very seriously, and she used the interview as an opportunity to reach out to those in need. "To the people out there who don't know what to do or where to go," she said. "The first step in getting help is just admitting that you have a problem and then telling them about it. "Reach out to someone whether it's a friend or a family member, just somebody who can help you get better and that's the most important thing," she advised.
Demi is due to return to the X Factor USA when it returns for season 3 later this year, and she couldn't resist taking a cheeky pop at Simon Cowell, who joins her on the judging panel alongside newcomers Kelly Rowland and Mexican star Paulina Rubio. Referring to the new line-up, which means Demi will no longer be seated next to Simon, she said, "He smells, so I'm just like I don't really want to sit next to you," she laughed. "He smells like money, cigarettes and mints, it's not my favourite! No, we just changed it up (the panel order) because we have two new cast members on the show."