MasterChef Elena Duggan on body image and endometriosis

She was crowned the 2016 winner of MasterChef Australia after cooking up a storm.

But behind the joy of her professional success, Elena Duggan was struggling with body image and the debilitating condition endometriosis.

Opening up on Whimn, the 34-year-old reality TV star, who hails from Queensland, reflected on her body insecurities growing up.

Former MasterChef winner Elena Duggan has opened up about her struggles with body image

The 34-year-old reality TV star (who was crowned the winner of MasterChef in 2016) reflected on her body insecurities growing up

The 34-year-old reality TV star (who was crowned the winner of MasterChef in 2016) reflected on her body insecurities growing up

Standing nearly 6 foot tall, a then-12-year-old Elena said she felt different from her fellow peers at school.

She did most of her ‘growing’ by the time she reached high school, she wore women’s clothing – and was the only girl standing in the back row for class photos.

‘I was a giant, long legged freak – I was torn between enjoying being treated like a grown up and wanting to be like all of my friends,’ she recalled.

Ms Duggan said she would make herself run 10 kilometres a day and follow a strict diet just so she could feel ‘truly satisfied’ with her appearance.

Ms Duggan said she would make herself run 10 kilometres a day and follow a strict diet just so she could feel 'truly satisfied' with her appearance

Ms Duggan said she would make herself run 10 kilometres a day and follow a strict diet just so she could feel ‘truly satisfied’ with her appearance

Ms Duggan said she loves her body for it's 'strength, endurance, recovery and miraculous healing' (pictured with MasterChef judge Gary Mehigan)

Ms Duggan said she loves her body for it’s ‘strength, endurance, recovery and miraculous healing’ (pictured with MasterChef judge Gary Mehigan)

Earlier this year, Ms Duggan was left with another battle after being diagnosed with endometriosis.

‘I love to exercise, but sometimes my pain, and pain induced exhaustion, makes it impossible to get out of bed, to stand up,’ Ms Duggan said.

She admitted she was feeling down on some days because of the ‘expectations of others, external pressures and imagery associated with beauty and success’.

‘Sometimes, I beat myself up and let the feelings impact on my self-worth and value,’ she said.

But despite her ‘complicated relationship with my body’, Ms Duggan said she loves her body for it’s ‘strength, endurance, recovery and miraculous healing’.



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