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LOVE Island's Laura Crane has revealed her secret battle with bulimia in a new candid interview.

The surfer, 23, started suffering from an eating disorder at the age of 16 before finally getting healthy two years ago.

 Laura Crane has opened up about suffering from an eating disorder
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Laura Crane has opened up about suffering from an eating disorderCredit: Lille Hand / @Lilliehand

She spoke out about her personal problems in a chat with , revealing she had a "negative view" of her body for years and it took her a long time to break out of the destructive cycle.

Laura said: "I had bulimia and an eating disorder since I was 16...

"Being a surfer and traveling the world and modeling put all these pressures on me as a girl growing up in that industry...

"I was 21 when I got better. I’m 23 now.

 She worried going in Love Island would be too hard for her
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She worried going in Love Island would be too hard for herCredit: Lille Hand / @Lilliehand
 She finally got healthy two years ago
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She finally got healthy two years agoCredit: Lille Hand / @Lilliehand

"[I feel] so much healthier! Mentally and physically. An eating disorder is a mental illness. It f**** you up in the head and it shows... It’s hard to let go, but once you do you get your life back."

She blames her issues on starting fashion shoots at the age of 12 and becoming caught up in the world of Instagram.

Laura explained: "I’ve been doing photoshoots with Billabong since I was 12.

"I’ve always been in photos and seeing myself in a bikini. When I was 16 I developed my eating disorder.

 Laura began doing photoshoots when she was just 12 years old
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Laura began doing photoshoots when she was just 12 years oldCredit: Lille Hand / @Lilliehand
 She blamed Instagram for intensifying her negative views of her body
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She blamed Instagram for intensifying her negative views of her bodyCredit: Lille Hand / @Lilliehand

"I think when Instagram and social media became huge, it was hard not to look at myself and compare it to how other girls were looking and what they were posting.

"That was a really hard time in my life. I had to work really hard on myself to get through that."

 The sexy star feared comments from viewers about her body would hurt her
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The sexy star feared comments from viewers about her body would hurt herCredit: Lille Hand / @Lilliehand
 Laura is now much more body confident
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Laura is now much more body confidentCredit: Lille Hand / @Lilliehand

The telly star said she was initially approached to go on Love Island last year, but she didn't feel strong enough.

She eventually agreed to go in this series and knew that being judged on her looks would be a huge challenge.

Laura said: "I knew I was going to go into the show and there would be a lot of people judging and having their say about me. I wanted to go in and prove to myself that I could take it...

"Which I feel I did..."

Pictures: photographer – , hair and make-up - , stylist – Ryan Kay, .


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