Before she became a global music icon, Demi Lovato was a bullied preteen struggling with self-worth. The Texas-born star rose to fame on Barney & Friends and later as a Disney Channel favorite, but behind the scenes, relentless bullying led to depression, self-harm, and an eating disorder. “It was like that scene in a movie where you walk into the lunchroom and everyone just looks at you,” Demi recalled.

By her teens, Lovato was battling bulimia and emotional trauma. “Nobody loves a fat rock star. Guess I’ll have to starve myself so people will like me,” she once wrote in her diary. At 18, after a public breakdown during a tour, she entered rehab, where she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Treatment helped her confront not only her eating disorder but also substance abuse and self-harm.

Lovato’s mother, Dianna De La Garza, faced her own mental health battles, which led to a family intervention and recovery journey. Today, Demi uses her platform to advocate for mental health and anti-bullying. “That was really my first taste of activism work — being an advocate for anti-bullying,” she said.