Demi Lovato says her 2012 stint in rehab helped her break out of the squeaky-clean ‘Disney mold’ and transition into a respected pop star.
“For me, the transition was a little bit easier because I didn’t have to do anything to break out of the Disney mold. It’s a lot easier when you just go to rehab,” the 24-year-old singer tells the Calgary Herald in a new interview. ““So, I kind of grew up really fast in the public eye in that way and so when it was time to release my music, I think people looked at me differently,” she says of the experience.
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The former Disney star made headlines when she checked into a rehab facility for help battling an eating disorder and drug addiction in 2012. The “Confident” singer now says that her experience in rehab helped shape who she is today, giving her the drive to focus on what kind of message she wants her music and her image to have.
“I wanted to prove to people that I wasn’t just a stereotypical Hollywood starlet that goes to rehab and falls back into the trap of the things that got her there,” she says. “I wanted to make sure that the music that I made was great and that I was passionate about the music that I put out and I sang my heart out and I also, like we said, I wanted to continue the message of using my platform for more things than just singing about heartbreak. That’s what music is for, is getting you through times, but also using it to inspire people.”
Lovato is currently touring with another former Disney star, her pal Nick Jonas.