I was in a sushi bar and it dawned on me - how could I discriminate between a cow and a fish?

My doctor felt that the main contributing factor was so many years of malnutrition, especially during my formative years, even before I got into modeling.

I had dropped out of school and was a runaway, so I didn't have family to fall back on if I didn't work. I didn't have a lot of other options of making money other than modeling.

Exposing any subject that is unpleasant or controversial means risking judgment and making some people feel uncomfortable.

Eating disorders, body dysmorphia and a general dissatisfaction with one's life and body seems to ail too many young people.

My own path towards wellness has been a long and dynamic one. It's taught me that healing from the inside out takes time and there can be great value in various sources of guidance.

Just as young people absorb all kinds of messages from the media, young girls learn what it means to be a woman by watching the older women in their lives.