Capital Radio host Roman Kemp has laid bare the profound psychological scars left by what he describes as a 'soul-crushing' foray into the modelling world during his teenage years, revealing it triggered a lifelong battle with body dysmorphia that continues to impact his mental health today.
The Harsh Reality Behind the Glamour
In a remarkably candid revelation, the 31-year-old broadcaster detailed how his brief stint in the fashion industry at just 17 years old became a catalyst for severe body image issues and disordered eating patterns that would plague him for years.
'It was the most soul-crushing experience,' Kemp disclosed, describing an environment where constant criticism about his physique became normalised. 'They'd measure every part of your body with tape measures, and there would be people saying, 'You need to lose weight here, you need to do this here.''
The Lingering Impact of Industry Pressure
Kemp explained how these early experiences fundamentally distorted his self-perception, leading to what he now recognises as body dysmorphia - a mental health condition where individuals become obsessively preoccupied with perceived flaws in their appearance.
'I look in the mirror and I don't see what everyone else sees,' he confessed, highlighting the condition's insidious nature. 'I genuinely don't. I see a completely different thing.'
A Lifelong Struggle With Self-Image
The television personality, who recently presented a groundbreaking BBC documentary about mental health, revealed that his disordered relationship with food and body image began during those formative modelling years and evolved into a persistent struggle.
'I would not eat, and then I would eat and make myself sick,' he shared, detailing the extreme behaviours that emerged from industry pressure. 'That happened for years. It's something that I still have now.'
Breaking the Silence on Male Body Image Issues
Kemp's revelations come as he continues to use his platform to destigmatise mental health discussions, particularly among men who often face societal pressure to remain silent about body image struggles and eating disorders.
His honesty provides a stark counter-narrative to the glamorous perception of modelling, exposing the often brutal psychological toll exacted by industries obsessed with physical perfection.
The broadcaster's story serves as both a cautionary tale about the dark side of the fashion world and an empowering message about the importance of addressing mental health challenges openly and without shame.
