I’m A Celebrity star Jack Vidgen, 23, lose 20kg in his teens in dangerous pursuit of fame

‘I was starving myself’: I’m a Celebrity star Jack Vidgen was labelled ‘too fat’ as a teenager and was pressured to lose 20kg after moving to Los Angeles

Jack Vidgen was willing to do anything to become a successful singer after winning Australia’s Got Talent in 2011 at the age of 14.

But a reckless comment from an ‘industry insider’ saw him lose 20kg in a dangerously short period of time in his pursuit of fame and fortune.

‘Someone when I was 15 gave a message to my manager that I was “too fat”,’ Jack said, in scenes set to air on Wednesday’s episode of I’m a Celebrity.

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‘I had huge body issues’: Jack Vidgen will discuss his struggles with disordered eating on Wednesday’s episode of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

At the time, Jack felt his career as a pop star ‘was riding on’ losing weight quickly.

‘I had huge body issues, especially around 16, 17 years old… I lost 20kg when I moved to the States,’ he revealed.

Two years after winning AGT, Jack relocated to Los Angeles alone at the age of 16. 

Troubles: A reckless comment from an 'industry insider' saw him lose 20kg in a dangerously short period of time in his pursuit of fame and fortune. Pictured on July 13, 2011

Troubles: A reckless comment from an ‘industry insider’ saw him lose 20kg in a dangerously short period of time in his pursuit of fame and fortune. Pictured on July 13, 2011

Unfortunately his $250,000 prize money soon ran dry and he returned to Australia two years later and worked in an aged-care home.

‘I stopped eating. It was horrible. I tried to mask it in a healthy way and say, “I’m in LA and I’m doing the green juices and I’m going vegan,”‘ he said.

‘But really I was just starving myself and having a juice for dinner,’ Jack added of his troubled years in America.

Private struggle: Two years after winning Australia's Got Talent in 2011, Jack relocated to LA alone at the age of 16. It was during this time he felt pressure to lose weight. Pictured in 2014

Private struggle: Two years after winning Australia’s Got Talent in 2011, Jack relocated to LA alone at the age of 16. It was during this time he felt pressure to lose weight. Pictured in 2014

Critic: 'Someone when I was 15 gave a message to my manager that I was "too fat",' said Jack, who ended up 'starving himself' while struggling to make it in Los Angeles

Critic: ‘Someone when I was 15 gave a message to my manager that I was “too fat”,’ said Jack, who ended up ‘starving himself’ while struggling to make it in Los Angeles 

Since rising to fame as a baby-faced teenager on Australia’s Got Talent almost a decade ago, Jack has completely transformed his appearance. 

In fact, his looks have changed so drastically in the past 10 years that AGT’s former host Grant Denyer initially failed to recognise Jack in the jungle. 

Jack has previously spoken about his extensive cosmetic procedures, and has even addressed them on I’m a Celebrity.  

My, how you have changed! The Voice star Jack Vidgen debuted a very glamorous new look over Christmas Pictured in 2011

Jack is pictured in December 2020

My, how you have changed! Jack debuted a very glamorous new look over Christmas. Pictured left in 2011; right in December 2020

Honest: In May last year, Jack admitted to getting lip fillers and said he had finally found happiness in himself

Honest: In May last year, Jack admitted to getting lip fillers and said he had finally found happiness in himself

Jack made a triumphant comeback on The Voice in 2019, after a five-year hiatus from the music industry.

Ahead of his debut on the Channel Nine singing competition, Jack chose to publicly came out as a gay man.

For free and confidential support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Butterfly Foundation for eating disorder concerns on 1800 ED HOPE

Tune in: I'm a Celebrity continues Wednesday from 7:30pm on Channel 10. Pictured: hosts Dr Chris Brown and Julia Morris

Tune in: I’m a Celebrity continues Wednesday from 7:30pm on Channel 10. Pictured: hosts Dr Chris Brown and Julia Morris