Yazmin Oukhellou has revealed how her experience with domestic abuse once left her contemplating suicide.
The TOWIE star, 27, took to Instagram on Saturday to recall her suffering during a time she claims she was "beaten up, belittled and blackmailed with private photos".
Yazmin - who did not name her alleged abuser - also revealed how she would portray a "perfect" life to her family in friends, but the reality was "worse than you could ever imagine".
She claims she found the strength to leave the relationship after one particular incident made her worry that the next time something happened, her "parents wouldn’t have their little girl anymore".
The reality TV star shared her story in the caption of a video of herself promoting her wellness retreat that could help others.
"I have been a victim of domestic abuse. Physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually," Yasmine told her 673,000 followers on Saturday morning.
She continued: "I haven’t been ready to speak about it until now but I feel that what has happened to me, as hard as this is to say, it’s like this has happened for a reason.
"So that I can now use my platform for good and help as many of you as I can going through the same as what I did."
The Essex native then went on to reveal the extent of the alleged abuse and how it left her feeling suicidal.
"I was left battered, bruised, fearing for my life on so many occasions and even contemplating ending my own life where I felt so worthless and I just couldn’t see a way out," she explained in her Instagram caption.
"I was blackmailed with private photos, beaten up, belittled, made to feel crazy, cheated on and isolated from my family and friends.
She continued: "I now look back and cannot believe how I stayed for so long and how I allowed myself to be treated so terribly.
"Now I am out of it and can see clearly again because anyone in a situation like I was will know what I mean when I say you feel as if your brain feels fuzzy like your not even really here but you are it’s the strangest feeling.
"I look back and think how did I put up with that torture for so long. Making out to the world, my family and friends that I had the perfect life when the reality was worse than you could ever imagine."
Yasmin then went on to explain how she has now created a programme alongside a team of experts, designed to help others in similar situations.
"I only left when it got so bad and my face was so battered, bloodied and bruised that I knew the next time this happened my parents wouldn’t have their little girl anymore," she painfully recalled.
"It was then something in me snapped and I knew that I did NOT deserve this torture anymore and that it was NOT my fault even though I was 'mouthy' or didn’t 'think before you speak'."
Continuing her statement in the comments, Yasmin explained how after having "intense therapy" and speaking with loved ones, she decided her purpose would be to share her story and help others.
"We are not taught this in schools or the signs to look for on how we can be manipulated and conditioned into these situations or even taught self love and self worth," she wrote.
"This is now my mission. I have rebranded the retreat from 'Marrakech' to 'Worldwide' because this is in fact the goal for me to help stop domestic violence and teach self love and worth, WORLDWIDE."
Many praised the star for speaking out, including fellow TOWIE alumna Frankie Sims, who left a string of red love-heart emojis as a comment underneath the moving post.
*If you are struggling with mental health, you can speak to a trained advisor from Mind mental health charity on 0300 123 3393 or email info@mind.org.uk.
