Sad truth behind Miss Universe’s rare photos

Former Miss Universe Australia winner Olivia Molly Rogers has shared a series of rare snaps while opening up about her six year battle.

Australian model Olivia Molly Rogers has taken to Instagram to share rare images with followers from a difficult time in her life that spanned six years.

The courageous 28-year-old revealed she had body image struggles during the peak of her modelling career when she was a teenager.

Taken about nine years ago, the images show the model in a variety of different poses.

But what many don’t realise, is that the photos were taken when Olivia “was deep in the grip” of an eating disorder.

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Model Olivia Molly Rogers, pictured as she is today, has shared photos from a difficult time in her life. Picture: Nicki Connolly

“Looking at them was triggering for me for a long time. I don’t have many photos from that period, I deleted most of them because they were painful to look at,” she wrote in her post.

Olivia was 19 years old when the images were taken and despite her health battles, she said modelling agencies would reassure her she “was doing really well and should be so proud of myself’.

“This was the beginning of a six year battle with an eating disorder, body image issues and a terrible relationship with food and exercise,” Olivia said.

“I still experience a lot of emotions when I look at these photos. I feel deeply sad remembering my mindset at that time, and seeing how young and vulnerable I was.”

Olivia, who took home the prestigious Miss Universe Australia beauty pageant title in 2017, said she now feels an “overwhelming sense of relief, pride and gratitude” after acknowledge just how far she has come over the years.

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The 28-year-old was 19 when these images were taken, adding she deleted most of photos from that period because ‘they were painful to look at’. Picture: Instagram/Olivia Molly Rogers

She said she feels deeply sad remembering her mindset at that time. Picture: Instagram/Olivia Molly Rogers

“The primary feelings I have now are positive,” she said.

The model turned speech pathologist went on to encourage her 160,000 followers battling with mental health issues, to speak up.

“World Mental health awareness day is this Saturday 10th October. I know it can be really confronting and scary to talk about personal experiences with mental health, but maybe this weekend you could try to open up to someone that you haven’t before,” Olivia wrote.

“I personally find it really freeing, the more I share my experience the easier it becomes. I encourage you to do the same — speak up and shake off the stigma.”

She’s hoping to encourage someone else to open up about their struggles to a loved one and seek help.

Many of her fans went on to thank her for her “vulnerability” and giving raising awareness about eating disorders.

“Thank you for your vulnerability and giving us a much needed insight into what it means to experience an eating disorder. I’m so glad you’re well and happy,” one fan wrote.

“It is such an awful illness to go through — that look of emptiness and sadness is so terrifyingly scary. It’s amazing that when you’re in it you can’t see it but when you’re “out” of it, it’s the thing that speaks volumes,” another fan wrote, adding, “I’m so glad you were able to find your way to recovery. I have too and am so grateful!”

Earlier this year, the model called out a follower for making an “absolutely disgusting and disgraceful” remark on one of her bikini photo’s.

“You’re too fat to be on Instagram. You should take this down it’s embarrassing,” it read.

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She recently hit back at a follower who called her ‘fat’ in the above bikini photo. Picture: Instagram/Olivia Molly Rogers

Just hours after posting it, Olivia took to her Instagram Stories to share the response with her fans.

“People who comment things like that are a big part of the reason young girls develop issues with their weight and bodies,” she said about the remark.

“They are a big part of the reason I had an eating disorder for 6+ years.

“I am a size 8 which usually is irrelevant to the conversation, but if I am being called fat as a size 8, imagine your size 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 woman and the comments they receive.”

She feels an ‘overwhelming sense of relief’ she was able to acknowledge just how far she has come over the years. Picture: Sam Tabone

Olivia has always been vocal about wanting to be a health and happiness role model for other women. She celebrated winning her Miss Universe Australia crown with a glass of champagne and a Big Mac.

During her time on stage she also opened up about her “disordered eating”, revealing her weight once dropped below 49kg, and she knew she was “in trouble”.

“For my height (173cm) that’s just not OK and it was all to look good in a photo and for what … I wasn’t happy,” she said.

If you are struggling with an eating disorder and need help contact the Butterfly Foundation on 1800 33 4673