Loose Women star Nadia Sawalha made an emotional confession on Friday's show
Nadia Sawalha, the beloved Loose Women presenter, was visibly moved on Friday's show as she opened up about her struggles with body image.
Despite being an advocate for body positivity, Nadia has had a long-standing battle with body dysmorphia.
The emotional moment unfolded after Kaye Adams presented a mock-up of what the Loose Women would look like as Barbie dolls, featuring Myleene Klass, Jane Moore, and Olivia Attwood. But it was Nadia's turn that left her stunned by the unrealistic representation.
Reacting to the doll version of herself, Nadia confessed: "I think the big problem with it is it looks like a really big bowl of something, I didn't stop eating until it was all gone. It is just the oddest thing."
Kaye quickly reassured her, saying, "It doesn't look like you at all," as Nadia explained: "It was a shock and I sort of laughed, but because I am body dysmorphic, I do see something different than what I am, and I've worked so hard at not having that image of myself."
Frankie Bridge offered her support, suggesting, "I think if you took the bowl out, it would be much better," reports Belfast Live.
Nadia continued to share her inner turmoil: "It just went to that morphed idea of myself. It just really did knock me for a bit, and then all those trolls that live in my head."
She elaborated on her mental struggle, adding, "That's why I always say trolls, because I create the best trolls ever in my own brain to have a go at myself, and it all sort of like it started to come back in.
"'Oh my God, you're just this... and you're that...' and then it just got ridiculous. I was really quite like, freaking out and thinking, 'how much weight have I put on' and all of this sort of stuff."
The Loose Women host went on to explain that she had to tell herself off for thinking that way because "there is so much suffering going on in the world.
"There is so much more than this in your own brain, giving you nonsense to think about, just get on with it.
"So I made my own doll and posted that instead, and it was an activist doll, because my activism is my is my heart and soul, and I felt healed."
Frankie and Kaye went on to comfort and support Nadia, telling her the doll "looked nothing like you."
Kaye also pointed out: "I think that madness, that noise you described, an awful lot of people will relate to."
Loose Women airs weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV.
