From tween star to a stint in rehab and a new lease on life, Demi Lovato is not your average Disney princess

BIO BOX
Full name Demetria Devonne Lovato
Born 20 August 1992
Birthplace Dallas, Texas
Star sign Leo

After a rough few months following her publicised break-up with Joe Jonas, Demi unexpectedly announced she was heading to rehab for ‘emotional and physical issues’. A source close to the actress and singer told People magazine the starlet had experienced a nervous breakdown after struggling with an eating disorder and self-mutilation.

Fans were also shocked to learn that Demi had had a physical altercation with a back-up dancer while touring with the Jonas Bros last year, which led to her dropping out of the tour early.

But in true Hollywood style, she’s bounced back. Having confronted her demons, she plans to now focus on her music career and on helping young women in similar situations. Here’s Demi on…

THE TIPPING POINT
‘I basically had a nervous breakdown. I was really bad off. My parents and my manager pulled me aside and said, “You need to get some help”. It was an intervention. I wanted freedom from the inner demons. I wanted to start my life over.’

BEING BIPOLAR
‘I never found out until I went into treatment that I was bipolar. Looking back, it makes sense. There were times when I was so manic, I was writing seven songs in one night and I’d be up until 5:30 in the morning. But I feel
like I’m in control now, where [before] my whole life I wasn’t in control. [It was my] darkest time. What’s important for me now is to help others.’

BEING BIPOLAR
‘I never found out until I went into treatment that I was bipolar. Looking back, it makes sense. There were times when I was so manic, I was writing seven songs in one night and I’d be up until 5:30 in the morning. But I feel
like I’m in control now, where [before] my whole life I wasn’t in control. [It was my] darkest time. What’s important for me now is to help others.’

SELF-HARMING
‘[It was] a way of relieving pressure when I was stressed and had anxiety.’

TAKING BACK CONTROL
‘One of the reasons I was so unhappy for years was because I never embraced my emotions and I was trying to stay in control. In treatment, all of the negative things I did were stripped away and I had to start processing my feelings.’

GIVING BACK
Now she’s in a better space, Demi, together with Seventeen magazine, has aligned with The Jed Foundation in a project aimed at helping teen girls. It’s called ‘Love is louder than the pressure to be perfect’. Hoping to help those struggling with some of the same issues she faced, Demi’s taken on a journalistic role and will post two articles a month on the foundation’s website. ‘I’m so excited to be working with Seventeen and The Jed Foundation to help other teens talk about and cope with these problems.’

CONNECTING WITH FANS
‘My fans have been such an incredible support system for me – I hope I can repay this and help other girls learn from my experiences.’

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• At the age of five, Demi joined the cast of Barney & Friends where she met her future BFF Selena Gomez.
• In 2007 she moved from toddlers to tweens, doing a series of comedic shorts on As the Bell Rings for Disney Channel.
• In 2008 she scored her break-out performance alongside The Jonas Brothers in Disney’s Camp Rock movie. It premiered to 8.9 million viewers and catapulted her to fame.
• That same year she shot the movie Princess Protection Program, and released her debut album Don’t Forget. She also began working on the Disney series Sonny with a Chance.