Demi Lovato On Growing Up In The Spotlight: ‘It Created So Many Issues For Me”
Demi Lovato, now 32, is getting real about the challenges of growing up in front of the camera. At the Teen Vogue Summit in Los Angeles on Nov. 23, the singer and filmmaker shared how making her documentary Child Star was a deeply therapeutic journey.
“The whole journey was really healing for me,” Demi said, reflecting on the experience. “Honoring the truth of my inner child was really healing for me.”
The documentary, which marks Demi’s directorial debut, dives into the highs and lows of life as a child actor. In the film, she speaks with former child stars like Drew Barrymore, Kenan Thompson, Raven-Symoné, and Alyson Stoner about their experiences in the entertainment industry. For Demi, these conversations were as healing as they were eye-opening.
“It really created a sense of community,” Demi explained, “and it made us feel less alone to share our experiences, even though we may have felt so isolated in them. So I think being able to talk to the participants of the film really was encouraging and therapeutic for me.”
Demi first stepped into the spotlight as a seven-year-old on Barney & Friends in 2002, before rocketing to stardom with roles in Disney hits like Camp Rock, Camp Rock 2, and Sonny with a Chance. However, life under the constant glare of the camera came with a price.
As the actress shared, having to be in front of the camera from a tender age of seven years created so many issues for me, “whether it be my self-esteem or body image.”
I have learned to have a healthier relationship with being on camera and just having acceptance over my body. But like anything, I’ve grown to have my boundaries with it and I protect myself when I can if I’m feeling insecure that day.”
Child Star, which premiered on Hulu in September, explores the joys and heartbreaks of growing up in the public eye. Co-directed by Demi and Nicola Marsh, the film captures the unique challenges faced by child actors and shines a light on how these early experiences shape their adult lives.
Demi, who uses she/they pronouns, also had a message for today’s young stars: “Don’t make yourself smaller to make other people more comfortable. If using your voice is something you’re passionate about, speak and shout it from the rooftops. Don’t be afraid to own your truth and just keep doing that.”
Looking ahead, Demi is determined to help the next generation avoid some of the pitfalls she faced. In a past interview, she expressed her plans to shield her future child from the entertainment industry until adulthood. “I’d say, ‘Let’s study music theory and prepare you for the day you turn 18 because it’s not happening before that. Not because I don’t believe in you or love you or want you to be happy, but because I want you to have a childhood, the childhood that I didn’t have.’”
