Australian Idol winner Kate DeAraugo is opening up about the toughest years of her life, revealing how she turned to drugs and alcohol to cope after a lifetime of struggling with body insecurities.

DeAraugo, 39, shot to fame in 2005 after winning the third season of the reality singing competition.

Now a mum of two boys, she’s reflected on her journey after living “through the highest highs and lowest lows”.

She’s celebrating the “wild times, beautiful moments and some of the darker moments” on her comeback tour, 20 years after her Idol win.

In a new interview, DeAraugo touched on that difficult time she now describes as her “12 years of darkness”, a period when she turned to drugs and alcohol to cope with a lifelong battle with body confidence.

“I’ve been fat shamed my entire life,”

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