Neighbours star Madeleine West details her crippling battle with anorexia and blames Barbie dolls

Madeleine West continues to speak candidly about her traumatic past and mental health struggles.

On Monday, the former Neighbors star, 42, shared a series of throwback photos of herself in a blue satin dress as she attended the 2000 National TV Awards held at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

West’s caption began by describing what a Barbie doll would look like if she were real, while claiming that these dolls set an unrealistic standard of beauty for young girls.

“If Barbie were a real woman, she would have to walk on all fours because of her proportions and wouldn’t be able to lift her head,” she wrote.

“If Barbie were a real woman, she would be six feet tall, weigh 110 lbs, have a bust of 4 feet, 18 inches waist, 30 feet hips, and size 3 shoes!”

On Monday, the former Neighbors star shared a series of throwback photos of herself in a blue satin dress as she attended the 2000 National TV Awards at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Introduced in 1965, Slumber Party Barbie came with a scale and a book titled ‘How to Lose Weight’ with directions that read ‘Don’t eat’.

West added that Barbie would have an alarmingly low Body mass Index (BMI), would not “menstruate” and that she “met the criteria” of anorexia.

“But how many of us have pushed our bodies to the limit to achieve resemblance to impossible representations of beauty … which, let’s face it, are no longer considered extreme, but increasingly considered ‘normal’?”

West’s caption began by describing what a Barbie doll would look like if she were real, while claiming that these dolls set an unrealistic standard of beauty for young girls.

The actress went on to describe the “torture” she put herself through as a young woman after being abused as a child.

“Like so many other teenagers, who carry the scars of childhood trauma, I tried to control my body… by torturing it. Twisting it into what I thought delusional would make me lovable, acceptable and beautiful,” she said. “I was so broken. I was so wrong.

She added that now, as a mother of six, she is “proud” to know that her two “gym obsessed” daughters don’t lean into unhealthy habits and instead “desire fitness.”

West’s caption began by describing what a Barbie doll would look like if she were real, while pointing out the unrealistic standards young girls face in terms of body image

The actress went on to talk about the “torture” she put herself through as a young woman after being abused as a child

‘[They’re] trying to be strong, not skinny,” West wrote.

“I just pray they never forget that the most attractive thing you can do is believe in yourself… Please… don’t make the same mistakes I did.”

In February, West spoke out about her battle with anorexia for the first time after revealing she was a victim of child sexual abuse.

Speaking to Stellar magazine this week, the Underbelly star said the trauma of abuse caused her to become obsessed with looking “perfect” — a task that was both “punishing” and never-ending.

West revealed that in her early teens, not long after the abuse ended, she developed anorexia as a coping mechanism.

“I just wouldn’t eat and then exercise too much,” she explained. “Pain and hunger made me feel something, because I’d gotten used to operating in a state of utter numbness.”

West claimed she was regularly abused by a “monster” who lived in the town where she grew up.

She said The sun of the alleged abuse: ‘This monster ruined my life. I came out on the other side, yes a survivor but happy with the victim title.

“Justice can be achieved. It was never and never will be your fault, it’s not your fault.’

If you, or someone you know, needs support related to eating disorders, call The Butterfly Foundation on 1800 33 4673. Call 000 in case of emergency.

West played Dee Bliss in the Channel 10 soap opera Neighbors from 2000-2003. She then returned in 2017 as Andrea Somers (pictured)