As a Child, She Was Called Fat & Bullied, Which Led to a Battle With Bulimia — Now She's a Pop Star Admired by Thousands

From as young as 8, she began experiencing relentless bullying that resulted in eating disorders and self-harm. She's since become a chart-topping star, gotten engaged, and reflected on everything that led her where she is today.

You may know her as the breakout star who rose through the ranks of Disney Channel fame, captivating young audiences with her talent. Later, she carved out an identity in the music industry, becoming an award-winning artist.

But what you might not know is that behind the flashing lights is a harrowing story of a little girl who endured being ostracized, verbally attacked, and targeted by classmates. What followed was years of bulimia, cutting, and self-medication before she was finally able to rebuild her life.

The Girl With the Big Voice and Bigger Dreams

This famous actress and pop star was just five years old when she stood onstage before her entire elementary school and belted out "My Heart Will Go On." The applause was immediate.

Her mother, Dianna, remembered the moment vividly, and that was when she knew her daughter was meant to perform. She shared:

"[...] It was beautiful. That was the first time I thought, 'Okay, this is probably what she's gonna want to do the rest of her life.'"

Born into a family already steeped in music and performance, the Hollywood star's path to the stage felt inevitable. Her mother had grown up in Irving, Texas, with a love for singing in church and even chased her passion to Nashville before life pulled her in a different direction.

After marrying young and leaving a volatile relationship, the child actress's mother turned her energy toward raising the young talent and her sister.

By the time the pop icon was eight, her mother had started entering her into local talent shows and beauty pageants. Then, just before her ninth birthday, she landed her first acting job on "Barney & Friends," a show that introduced her to audiences across America.

By the end of that school day, she found herself on the receiving end of a full-blown social exile.

As the child star worked the pageant circuit and local acting gigs, her confidence grew. Then, at a Disney open casting call in Dallas, she stood out from hundreds of other hopefuls and earned a small part in a tween comedy short series. Though the role was minor, it marked the beginning of something bigger.

It wasn't long before she was auditioning again, this time for a musical comedy starring the Jonas Brothers. The made-for-TV movie became a cultural phenomenon, and her duet with the film's lead was an instant hit.

Suddenly, she wasn't just another child actor. She was a rising star with a hit song and the backing of the Disney machine. A debut album followed. So did the fan base. Tween audiences adored her for her powerhouse vocals and relatable, down-to-earth presence.

But while her face lit up red carpets and her songs climbed the charts, something else — something far more complicated — had been brewing just beneath the surface.

The Bullying That Almost Broke Her

Before the fame and flashing lights, this former child star was just another student in Dallas, Texas — just a child who still passed notes during class and tried to navigate the fragile hierarchy of friendships.

One of those notes, scribbled during a moment of frustration, called a popular classmate "annoying." It was the kind of petty drama typical of most young children. But the fallout wasn't.

By the end of that school day, she found herself on the receiving end of a full-blown social exile. When she walked into the lunchroom, all eyes were on her.

The girls she had written about were well-liked, and soon, nearly everyone who wanted to remain in their good graces had turned against her. The Hollywood star recalled years later:

"It was that, like, scene in the movie where you walk in the lunch room and everyone just looks at you.

The backlash was swift and brutal. That weekend, she traveled to a military base for a concert, hoping the break would bring some relief. But when she returned, things had only escalated.

She confronted her classmates, confused about how a single note could spiral so far out of control. The answer she got was cutting. "I literally didn't know why they were being so mean to me. And when I would ask them why, they would just say, 'Well, you're fat,'" she revealed.

At such a young age, she began internalizing those words. Ultimately, years of bullying led to a devastating eating disorder that would haunt her for years. If she wasn't starving herself, she was compulsively overeating, driven by the cruel voices of her peers echoing in her mind.

By her own admission, she began struggling with depression from a very young age, dealing with thoughts of death and darkness she didn't fully understand.

When she finally sought professional help years later, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and the pieces began to fall into place. She shared, "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."

What made everything harder was the growing presence of social media.

But as a child, on the cusp of becoming a teenager, her knowledge of mental health was limited. All she knew was that the bullying had stolen her sense of safety, and she wanted to feel numb.

It was around this time that the Hollywood star turned to alcohol. She was looking for a way to dull the pain. In a cruel irony, the very thing that had made her a target — her early success — had also become her only escape.

"I felt like I didn't have much to look forward to anymore except for my music, and music kind of kept me alive," she admitted. Her mother tried to intervene throughout the turmoil.

After hearing what her daughter was going through, Dianna went to the school to confront the issue. But officials dismissed her concerns. Because the worst of the abuse was not happening on school grounds, their hands were tied, and no real consequences followed.

What made everything harder was the growing presence of social media. Hers was one of the first generations to experience cyberbullying at scale, where insults didn't just happen in hallways, but followed her home through screens. The pop star admitted:

"I wish that someone had just hit me and gotten it over with because at least I wouldn't have to live with those words that they said to me for years and that's what was the hardest part."

One of the most disturbing episodes came when classmates circulated a petition encouraging her to take her own life. They passed it around the school, collecting signatures. Amidst all this, the young actress was self-harming, a secret ritual meant to make her outside reflect the shame and pain she felt inside.

She kept performing through it all, often while battling on an empty stomach, her voice weakened from purging. The pressure built until, eventually, it all boiled over. During a concert tour tied to the musical that launched her to stardom, she had a breakdown.

The actress lashed out at someone she cared about deeply, a moment that forced her to stop hiding and finally confront what was happening. She checked into a treatment center and underwent therapy for anorexia, bulimia, self-harm, and depression.

It was also where she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder — a revelation that brought clarity. For the first time, she understood the chemical imbalance that had long controlled her emotions and behaviors. "I feel like I'm in control now," she said. "My whole life, I wasn't."

Engaged, Creating Music, and Facing Her Past

This actress and pop icon is none other than Demi Lovato, who, after years of struggling with eating disorders, substance abuse, and the long-term effects of bullying, has reached a place of stability, both personally and professionally.

In September 2024, she appeared on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Kimmel" and announced her engagement. She shared that she and her partner had begun planning the wedding soon after the proposal in December the previous year.

On February 14, 2025, she posted a message on Instagram addressed to her fiancé, Jordan. "Jordan, I cannot WAIT to marry you!!" the post read in part. The visuals reflected a polished, old-Hollywood look with a personal, romantic tone.

On the professional front, Demi released the album "REVAMPED" on September 15, 2023. The project featured new rock versions of her most well-known songs, aligning with her broader artistic shift in recent years and reflecting her focus on growth and authenticity.

Over the years, she's also spoken publicly about the painful parts of her past. During her recovery, she followed a 12-step program that included making amends. As part of the ninth step, she called the girl who had bullied her in seventh grade. The singer shared:

"When I looked at everything, I was like, you know, I can't look back at that situation and say that I was innocent [...]. Part of the steps was calling and making amends and so I called her."

The girl was surprised to hear from her. "She was like, 'Oh my gosh, I can't even believe you remember who I am.' And I was like, 'You ruined my life,'" Demi shared. The singer ended the call shortly after, saying, "I'm sorry, and I wish you well."

In the time since, Demi has also received praise for her recent appearance. "The most beautiful 🩷," one netizen commented on one of her Instagram posts.

Another added, "Demi Lovato looks so much good [sic] 💗," while a third typed, "How does it feel knowing you're the most beautiful person to ever exist." Another netizen simply shared, "BEAUTIFUL," while a fifth person wrote, "Stunning 🔥."

Demi's path from bullied child to chart-topping artist has been shaped by pain, persistence, and growth. Her success, recovery, and willingness to confront the past reflect a life rebuilt with intention. Today, she continues to evolve on her own terms.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "help” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.