Love Island’s Shaughna Phillips recalls using dangerous fad diets: ‘I was taught food is the enemy’

has opened up about her battle with body dysmorphia, including using dangerous fad diets at the age of 14.

The former star, 28, candidly revealed that she used to think that food was ‘the enemy’ as she’s opened up about her difficult journey to accepting herself.

She also discussed her extreme diets, but now admits that she had ‘terrible eating habits’ at the time.

Speaking of her struggles, the star said: ‘Starting from the age of 14 or so, I don’t think I’ve ever been off a diet.’

‘I think from a very young age I was taught that food is the enemy.’

In an interview , she said: ‘I definitely think I had body dysmorphia in Love Island because I was so insecure.’

In another revelation, she added: ‘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 also said she thought she would be happy if she were skinnier, but was still unhappy when she reached a point of being ‘too skinny’.

She also explained how she’s changing the way she sees exercise and going to the gym, as it used to be a form of punishment but is now something that she ‘enjoys’ and makes her ‘happy’.

Touching on her changed mental approach, Shaughna revealed she’s focusing more on how she feels as opposed to what she looks like, and she wants to help others feel the same way with her Be You With Shaughna initiative.

The bombshell launched her body-positive app last month, revealing at the time that it allowed her to face up to the trolling she’d been experiencing at the time.

She said: ‘As someone who was introduced to the world in a bikini, I’ve been on the receiving end of judgement and criticism about my appearance for a long time…. 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.’

She continued: ‘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.’

Elsewhere, the beauty revealed another milestone in her life last month: that .

The former democratic services officer, from London, excitedly shared the news that an offer she’d put in on a house had been accepted.

Taking to Twitter on Tuesday, she said: ‘My mortgage has been approved. I could cry, before Love Island I couldn’t even afford to rent on my own, now I’m here, with a mortgage, on my own, before I’m 30.

‘I am so f**king grateful I can’t even put it into words. Okay I’m crying bye x.’

She then added: ‘Honestly though, I would not be where I am today without every single person who has supported me, this is basically all of our house.

‘I don’t ever forget how fortunate I am, and how lucky I’ve been. I will never ever take it for granted. Just thank you really.’