I sometimes find it a little strange to admit, but even though I’m older than them in age – I still admire Disney stars like Demi Lovato or Selena Gomez. Personally, I don’t think I could ever be an actress because I’m a terrible liar and I have giggle fits at almost everything, but I admire them because they are both accomplishing so much at their age. It’s impressive and there’s no denying that. I’m a hopeless Disney Channel fan and so like many other young girls – when I found out that Demi Lovato was hurting and suffering  from an eating disorder and self harming among other underlying issues at 18, I was shocked.

I think we can’t ever fully understand what it’s like to live that kind of fast paced lifestyle unless we have it. For years, when I was younger, I was confused at how celebrities could ever get involved so deep with these kinds of things when it seemed like they had everything. And I’ve come to the realization that it’s us that is to blame sometimes. We put celebrities and especially young role models on these pedestals and I suppose it doesn’t help that Disney paints these images of them as these characters. That’s all they are though – just…characters.

I feel for Demi though and I thought that the MTV special was beautifully done and painted her as not just a singer or an actress or a performer, but a human. In the last few weeks, there has been speculation that Demi has relapsed and has been in and out of rehab. Her camp denied these rumors, but who really knows? In tonight’s special, she didn’t admit to a full recovery, but allowing herself to share her story with others and being this vulnerable is yet another reason why I find her to be an inspiring role model – even if she didn’t ask for it and even if she never intended to be one in the first place.

Demi Lovato sat down with MTV correspondent Suchin Pak after the special.