She underwent £20,000 worth of gastric sleeve and skin removal surgery last year, after her 30 stone weight became a risk to her health.
But former Britain’s Got Talent star Rosie O’Sullivan is now healthier and happier than ever, and is showing off her staggering 17-stone slim down on Instagram.
The 22-year-old took to the social media site before Christmas to share an impressive transformation snap, and gushed to fans of her new-found confidence.
Unrecognisable: Britain’s Got Talent star Rosie O’Sullivan is showing off her staggering 17-stone slim down on Instagram, after having a gastric sleeve fitted in 2016
Rosie is almost unrecognisable in the before and after post – which sees her showing off her newly-slim figure in a cream tunic and leggings, beside her much larger frame during her time on Britain’s Got Talent.
Beaming widely for the camera, Rosie proved she was more confident than ever, after achieving her dreams both career and health-wise.
She gushed to fans: ‘I had 2 dreams when I was a little girl to become a singer and to be healthy and be able to shop in River island.
Transformed: Rosie was 30 stone when she appeared on Britain’s Got Talent (above), but is now more confident than ever – gushing to fans she could ‘finally wear shorts with no tights’
‘A 3 year transformation, so looking forward to the last stage this month so I can finally wear a pair of shorts with no tights!’ which she followed with: ‘#transformation #weightlossjourney #dream #believe #gastricsleeve #tummytuck #cosmetics #dreambelieveachieve’
Rosie is now a healthy thirteen stone, having dropped more than half her body weight in her impressive slim down.
She recently told The Sun of her weight loss struggles: ‘When I appeared on BGT I was nearly 30 stone.
Impressive: Rosie has shed an impressive 17 stone in three years, after her weight put her health at risk (pictured in 2016)
Struggle: She recently said of her weight loss struggles: ‘I was hot, sweaty and struggled to walk up stairs. ‘I hit a real low and I told my parents I wanted weight loss surgery’
‘I was hot, sweaty and struggled to walk up stairs, and the costume department had to make dresses for me as it was impossible to get trendy clothes in a size 28.
‘I hit a real low and I told my parents I wanted weight loss surgery after seeing an advert online.’
Rosie has since undergone more than £20,000 worth of weight loss and skin removal surgery, and had a gastric sleeve fitted last year when her weight became a risk to her health.
Transformed: Rosie has since undergone more than £20,000 worth of weight loss and skin removal surgery (R), and had a gastric sleeve fitted last year
Back to her best: Rosie, who also had two stone of excess skin removed in an £8,000 tummy tuck and £6,000 bi-latheral thigh reduction, hit a healthy BMI in January 2016
Rosie, who is studying at the London College of Music and working part-time at Streetly Co-op, underwent the £5,000 procedure at private Spire Little Aston hospital in Sutton Coldfield – which her parents funded for her.
‘I was a foodaholic,’ she admitted at the time. ‘As soon as I’d finished one meal, I started thinking about the next one. I ate massive portions and never said no to seconds.
‘People with normal diets may find it hard to imagine, but I liken it to an alcoholic who is always thinking about their next drink.’
Rosie, who also had two stone of excess skin removed in an £8,000 tummy tuck and £6,000 bi-latheral thigh reduction, hit a healthy BMI in January 2016.
‘There isn’t a diet I haven’t tried but I just couldn’t stick to them,’ Rosie confessed.
Obsessed: Rosie confessed at the time: ‘People with normal diets may find it hard to imagine, but I liken it to an alcoholic who is always thinking about their next drink’
Runner-up: Rosie, pictured before she had her gastric sleeve fitted, was beaten to the BGT trophy by Hungarian shadow dance group Attraction
Old me: The gastric sleeve reduced Rosie’s stomach to around a quarter of its original size and the BGT star admitted the weight ‘fell off’ after surgery
‘I couldn’t stop thinking about food’: Defending her choice to undergo surgery, she said: ‘There isn’t a diet I haven’t tried but I just couldn’t stick to them’
‘I know that makes me sound weak but I tried and tried and I still couldn’t stop thinking about food. In the end I knew I would need surgical help if I was ever going to really lose weight.’
The gastric sleeve reduced Rosie’s stomach to around a quarter of its original size.
Slim down: Rosie shared this photo of her stomach after losing 8 stone
The procedure also removed the area which makes the hormone Grehlin which is nicknamed the ‘hunger hormone’ and is known to stimulate appetite.
After the operation Rosie said the weight ‘fell off’ her and she ended up having follow-up surgery to remove two stone of excess skin.
She is now eating more healthily, gives herself smaller portions and doesn’t snack between meals.
‘It was a big decision but I have never felt better,’ said Rosie. ‘Now I’m hoping to change much more than my size.
Before adding: ‘I have a new album and single coming out so I hope 2016 is going to be my year!’
Little Aston consultant surgeon Mr Aamir Khan, who specialises in weight-loss procedures, said: ‘There was no hiding the fact that Rosie was dangerously overweight. She was putting her health at risk.
‘We discussed her lifestyle and her many, many attempts to cut down on food. Together with family members we decided a gastric sleeve would be her best choice of treatment.
Fitness fanatic: Rosie is now eating smaller, healthier portions and has joined a gym to exercise regularly
‘The operation is a minimally invasive procedure with most patients staying in hospital for a couple of nights.’
‘The results have been amazing,’ said Rosie. ‘My appetite changed completely and the weight started to fall off me. Food no longer controls my life.
‘I can now wear clothes I want to wear, I exercise and have even joined a gym.’
Rosie, from Streetly, West Midlands, was a semi-finalist in the ITV competition in 2013 – impressing judges with her rendition of Percy Sledge’s When a Man Loves A Woman.
‘I can now wear the clothes I want to wear’: She gushed after her op: ‘The results have been amazing/ My appetite changed completely. Food no longer controls my life’