Classical singer Hayley Westenra has opened up about the "breakdown" she suffered in 2009 after an extreme diet caused her weight to plummet.
The 24-year-old soprano tells Britain's Seven magazine she began obsessing over her meals while on the road touring, away from her family and friends.
"[A] breakdown... That's what I thought I was going through. I told my family, 'That's it, the end.' I saw a picture and I thought I looked full of puppy fat. It's hard when you see lots of photos of yourself. You can say, 'I'm happy with my curves', but as a girl you're going to be a bit self-conscious...
"Food was a thing to focus on. I got into the habit of not eating much. I'd buy fruit, some salad and almonds and be eating nothing really. It's terrible, but you get used to it after a while. I know that's not healthy because I was eating just boiled vegetables, nuts and seeds and it was terrible. I just got into the habit of saying no to things, no to food... I think I would have been a US size zero."
Westenra took a turn for the worse after contracting bronchitis at the end of 2008, prompting her to call off her 2009 tour dates and leading to a "vicious cycle" of scoffing sweets.
