17st teen went from depressed bulimic to a bikini body contest winner in just a YEAR

A FORMER bulimic who struggled with obesity has battled back to health – to become a bikini-clad bodybuilder.

Grace Marriott, 21, from Aurora, Colorado, USA developed bulimia when she was 16, following years of relentless bullying at school which began when she was just NINE.

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Cruel taunts by the school sport’s team caused her to have low self-esteem, depression and an eating disorder.

Grace said: "I loved sport and was on a softball team and the girls were really mean.
"I was made an outcast and would feel so down about myself.

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";I only saw myself as fat, ugly, and a worthless.

"With this I fell into a deep depression."

Grace suffered with bulimia for two years before she sought help and was admitted to a mental health hospital in 2013.

However, the long-term damage of bulimia caused Grace to quickly gained over 5st 10lbs during her recovery and made her even more miserable.

Grace said: "I became conscious of my weight after the first time I got called fat when I was nine years old.

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"I wasn't accepted, so I resorted to something I thought would get me accepted and lose weight which was bulimia and those were the worst years of my life.

"The light bulb moment was when I went to a mental health hospital.

"I had to strip and get looked at by these nurses to see if I was hiding anything to harm myself.

"I didn't feel like a person."

"I got help and became comfortable eating but wasn't aware of the damage I did to my body so the weight packed on.

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"I couldn't fit into anything.

I'd have to stretch out my school polo shirts every morning so they would be loose and not be tight on my body.

"I stopped going to college because I couldn't handle just walking to class because I was so self-conscious.

Reaching her heaviest weight of 17st 4lbs in January 2014, Grace vowed to transform her life and began eating healthy meals and joining a gym.

In 2015 the full-time nanny started training with a bodybuilding coach, working out up to three times a day.

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And just a year later, the newly confident Grace strutted her stuff at the Warrior Classic Figure contest in Colorado in August this year.

Grace said: "I made it to 17st 4lbs and that is what made me flip the switch in my mind, thinking, ‘I need to pay attention to myself.'

"Finally, I'm comfortable and happy with who I am.

"I wanted to get on stage and show off all my hard work and how far I have come from the shy, depressed girl I used to be.

"I never thought I would be hooked on bodybuilding.

"Growing up I always just wanted to be skinny with no muscle.

"I hated the thought of even picking up a weight to get toned.

"When I met with my coach Jason Allen Robinson for the first time he saw such potential in me that I didn't see for myself.

"He told me I would compete so I just went along with it. I am so happy I did.
"I have a place where I belong and where I take pride in my accomplishments."

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She added: "Being on stage is such an adrenaline rush.

"I was in such a beautiful suit, I had my hair and makeup done and I was feeling so pretty, so I owned it."

Grace is now bursting with confidence and influences others through her Instagram account @gracemarriott.

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She said: "My whole life changed. I feel so amazing.

"I can walk into a room or any new situation with my head held high.

"I always want to go try new things, I no longer let my insecurities rule my life.

"I've been noticed a lot more by guys, and get compliments I've never had before."

Body building has changed a lot of people's lives, such as 70-year-old great-gran Mary Clayton, who now competes in muscle contests.