The Real Housewives of Cheshire star Deborah Davies has revealed the heartbreaking truth that she existed on cucumber soaked in vinegar in a bid to stay slim as a model and beauty queen.
Deborah, the newest member of the ITVBe reality show cast, shared what she looked like at 18 years old when she won a beauty pageant.
The reality star posted a picture of herself backstage in her sash after she had been crowned Miss Stockport in 1985 and was competing to be Miss UK.
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Deborah told her followers how she lived off a diet of vinegar and cucumber at the time and on the day the throwback photo was taken she was 'tired, exhausted and starving.'
She was 5ft10 and weighed seven and a half stone and was told she still needed to lose half stone.
"Throwback to 1985," she wrote with the photo.
"I was Miss Stockport and heading towards Miss UK that summer.
"At that point I existed on cucumber soaked in vinegar. I weighed 7 and a half stone and I’m 5ft 10.
"I was with a model agency in Manchester and one in London, they said I needed to lose half a stone."
Deborah told a story of how her dad intervened because of his concerns over an audition for catwalk shows in Tokyo and she eventually left the industry.
"I remember my dad saying no Debbie this isn’t right, I was already so very underweight!" she revealed.
"The pressure to be the thinnest I could be was because of an audition for Tokyo a three month contract for catwalk shows… I didn’t go, my dad said no.
"I’m glad I didn’t go, who knows how my life would have turned out, on the day this photo was taken I was tired, exhausted and starving, nothing is worth that much pressure and so I’m glad I eventually got myself out of that industry."
She added about the picture: "That back combed hair though."
One follower replied: "So heartbreaking how much pressure is on youngsters that to look good you have to be stick thin, thankfully your dad made the right decision for you and kept you alive."
Earlier this month Deborah, a psychic medium from Wilmslow, told how she had lost two stone after battling with the menopause.
She said she suddenly gained weight and was 'stripped of energy' because of the change and felt 'hungry all the time.'
She told fans that she had adopted a mostly plant-based diet and takes supplements and turmeric, coconut water and ginger shots, but still enjoyed her favourite pudding.
"Still a long way to go but I’m getting there! Eating healthy food for 90% of the time but not denying myself the odd sticky toffee pudding," she said on Instagram.
Before joining the ITVBe reality show Deborah, who live streams ghost walks on her social media, previously appeared on Sky TV show Unexplained: Caught on Camera investigating the spirit world.
