Lisa Rinna’s 16-Year-Old Daughter Opens up About Her Battle With Anorexia
At just 16 years old, Amelia Gray Hamlin — daughter of Real Housewives star Lisa Rinna and her husband, Harry Hamlin — is opening up on Instagram for the first time about her battle with anorexia. She shared a photo of what her body looked like in a bikini one year ago compared to what she looks like now.
Alongside the photos, Amelia told her 280,000 followers,"I feel comfort with finally posting something that I wish I was confident enough to post long ago. I'm getting many comments comparing my body today vs. my body last year. I think that the support from my followers has really pushed me into writing this. Anyways, last year at this time there was no doubt that I was not okay. Not only physically but also mentally. I feel like sometimes people forget that just because your job involves being in front of the camera, doesn't mean you can't have bad days."
She continued, "…I am SO beyond humbled and grateful to have the platform that I do at such a young age, and to wake up every morning with a little girl reaching out to me and telling me I am her inspiration, really makes me feel like I have a purpose. I went through this journey not for attention, not for people to pity me, but to help. I am on this earth to help people, and I know that. One in 200 women in the US [suffers] from anorexia. And I want to help."
Not only did Amelia explain what she was going through in the second photo, but also how she's feeling today. She said that she still doesn't have "the perfect" body type but she's figuring out how to own her natural curves and not trying to "starve them away."
The teen decided to get help after she woke up one morning and stopped "sabotaging myself…my health, my physical health, my mental health and everything about myself." However, Amelia's anorexia battle came with long-term consequences as she revealed she has suffered many health complications since getting treatment as well as a recent diagnosis of Hashimoto's disease — an autoimmune disorder causing constant inflammation which results in a failed thyroid gland.
And after sharing this story, Amelia's fans took to her comments section and praised her bravery. "Your heart mind and body are beyond beautiful and 100% show and GLOW in this photo!!! Strength and love is what gets us through life in the happiest form. What a transformation ❤️hugs from NYC," one person said. Another wrote, "You are beautiful! At 16 years old not only did you put yourself out there by sharing a very personal struggle, but did it for very unselfish reasons. Wow!"