Demi Lovato was stunning at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday. She wore a sexy red dress that revealed lots of cleavage. It wasn’t too long ago that the ‘Heart Attack’ singer wouldn’t even consider wearing such a dress. She suffered from serious body image problems.

Wilmer Valderrama’s long time girlfriend went to rehab for a fairly lengthy stint, back in 2010, and although she did have some drug and alcohol problems, she also fought bulimia. Stemming from a body image problem, her dislike of her body reached the dangerous point. Now she is hoping that her new, healthier feelings about her body might help others struggling with a poor body image to realize there is hope.

Demi Lovato shared some pictures of herself on Sunday’s VMAs red carpet via Instagram. She said of the them, “This picture makes me feel so many mixed emotions.. I remember the day I wore the dress in the very first picture. I remember asking for Spanx to flatten my stomach because I use to feel so heavy and ‘fat.’ Now looking at this picture, you can clearly see my hip bones.”

“It makes me sad because I wasted so many years ashamed of my body when I could’ve been living the happy and healthy life I live today,” she continued. “It TRULY just goes to show you that your perceptions can lie to you. OR they can make you learn to enjoy life.”

“Fortunately looking at the picture of myself in the red dress…I not only feel so grateful for the love and support I’ve had from fans, friends and family, but… I also feel.. beautiful,” she concluded. “I’m so excited to live my life the way I deserve to and to the complete fullest. Thank you guys once again.. I’m so thankful for my Lovatics. I love you… And never forget that staying strong is worth it.”

The last of Demi Lovato’s Instagram post read, “Fortunately looking at the picture of myself in the red dress…I not only feel so grateful for the love and support I’ve had from fans, friends and family, but… I also feel.. beautiful,” she concluded. “I’m so excited to live my life the way I deserve to and to the complete fullest. Thank you guys once again.. I’m so thankful for my Lovatics. I love you… And never forget that staying strong is worth it.”

Demi Lovato went to hell and back when suffering from her eating disorder. As anyone knows who has experienced it or stood beside someone else who has, it’s a very real medical issue. Kudos to Demi for working hard and finally seeing that all her work and therapy was worth her time and energy. She sets a fine example for others who may be battling bulimia or another type of eating disorder.