She's been called one of Australia's sexiest models, but actress Imogen Bailey recently revealed her ugly battle with anorexia.
Bailey dropped below 40kg before family and friends intervened and sought help for the actress.
Now healthy and happy, Bailey joined TODAY to talk about her experiences.
The star recently revealed she struggled with anorexia to Who Weekly magazine.
The Neighbours cast member said she was anorexic for approximately 12 months in 2000 and 2001.
"I was modelling at the time and being surrounded by other skinny women I got skinnier and skinnier and just thought it was normal," said Bailey.
Bailey only realised she was anorexic when a client said some of her shots made her look too skinny after a modelling shoot.
Bailey cites a combination of factors leading to her battle.
"My career, being surrounded by other anorexics and the stress of a break-up from an unfaithful boyfriend," said Bailey.
Bailey is critical of magazines for putting anorexic women on the covers as she believes this encourages other women to think that is what is needed to get on front covers.
"Girls need to know that what they see on TV and in magazines is not real. Lighting and photoshopping have such an impact that even the girls themselves don't really look like that."
Anorexia is the third most common chronic illness among teenage girls, after obesity and asthma.
Diet attitudes in Australia
- More than half of Australian women have taken diet pills
- 88 percent regularly skip meals to lose weight
- 20 percent starve themselves for a day
- 15 percent admitted to vomiting after eating
- 56 percent used slimming tablets
- 37 percent smoked to suppress their appetite
- 17 percent went for more than a day without eating
- Three-quarters of women prefer to be a size six than size 16
