Former Love Island contestant Shaughna Phillip s has revealed she was suffering from body dysmorphia when she appeared on the show in 2020.
In struggles to 'accept herself', the 28-year old said she has been on diets since the age of 14 believing that 'food is the enemy'.
Speaking candidly to OK! Magazine, she discussed her past 'terrible eating habits' and the extreme diets she has tried - including eating less than 500 calories in a day.
Shaughna, who lasted 33 days in Casa Amor two years ago, criticised the role of teenage magazines in offering articles on losing weight and 'holiday diet tips', claiming she was taught from a young age that 'food is the enemy'.
"I definitely think I had body dysmorphia in Love Island because I was so insecure," she said.
She lost four stone in the years before appearing on the hit ITV show, citing dad, Eddie's death in 2016 as a possible catalyst.
Discussing the period in her life when she kept calorie intake to a bare minimum, she said: "I used to carry around like a chocolate bar in my bag if I ever felt very faint and I'd have a bite of the chocolate bar to keep me conscious, which is just ridiculous."
Shaughna claims she was always in the mindset that being skinnier would make her happy, however, on realising her goal she reached the point of feeling 'too skinny'.
The turning point came, however, when Shaughna made the decision to become physically stronger and look fit, which sparked a change for the better in her eating habits.
And Shaughna has now taken that change one step further and hopes to inspire others with the launch of her new wellness plan that incorporates a web site and mobile app, Be You With Shaughna.
A mission statement on her web site reads: "I've created a lifestyle and fitness plan that is genuinely for EVERY BODY and puts building your confidence first. The Be You Plan is all about believing in yourself, feeling empowered and becoming more confident than you've ever been before!"
Shaughna revealed the motivation behind the launch came as a result of being trolled about her appearance.
"I've been on the receiving end of judgement and criticism about my appearance for a long time," she explained.
"I've done every fad diet going and been all different shapes and sizes, however the comments keep coming.
"I've now come to the realisation that the key to feeling happy and confident is NOT about other people's opinion, but instead about self-love, self-belief and self-confidence.
"This mindset has been a gamechanger and is why I'm so excited to launch 'BE YOU WITH SHAUGHNA'– it's the formula that has turned my outlook around and I want to share it with the world.
"This isn't your typical quick-fix, short-term, punish-yourself regime - I've been there, done that and they don't last. This is all about making healthy habits, enjoying your workouts and building a positive long-term lifestyle.
"And by creating an online community alongside the plan, we can all work together, motivate and encourage one another along the journey."
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