Demi Lovato voted U.G.L.Y. celebrity role model of 2014 in Tenth Annual Program

CHICAGO, IL – Demi Lovato is the U.G.L.Y. celebrity of 2014 in the tenth annual celebrity of the year program that asks teens and tweens to identify and nominate celebrities who exhibited exemplary role model behavior during the year. 

This singer, songwriter, actress, author, X-Factor judge, mental health and anti-bullying advocate, is an outspoken voice that is honest and relatable to so many youth not only in this country but around the world.

She is a survivor of bullying which started when she was 8 years old. Some kids would call her fat and the pain of being bullied like that led to her struggles with eating disorders, self-harm and addiction to drugs and alcohol. 

Her bouts with depression and suicide ideation was a heavy burden on her. In 2011 she was diagnosed as bi-polar. With the help of rehab she was able to uncover the many feelings she had buried deep inside of her over the years. Her story of overcoming all of this has inspired many youth who struggle with some of the same issues.  

According to one of the teens who nominated Lovato for this award, “Demi Lovato is a good role model because her whole music career has been to help others overcome suicide, depression and the feeling of loneliness and hurt. She has the slogan, ’Stay Strong. Since I was 8 years old she’s been my role model.” 

The U.G.L.Y. Celebrity of the Year Award was created by bullying prevention nonprofit, Hey U.G.L.Y.-Unique Gifted Lovable You in 2005 to help youth living in our celebrity-obsessed culture distinguish between positive and negative role models and behaviors. This celebrity role program, available to schools and youth serving organizations, enables students to differentiate the “hype” from reality and embrace that it’s, ’what you do instead of what you look like that matters the most.’

Previous winners of this award are:  Angelina Jolie, Sean Penn, Emily Osment, Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Warner, J.P. Hayes, America Ferrera, Salma Hayak and Cameron Diaz.

Contact Information

Betty Hoeffner

Co-founder/President

Hey U.G.L.Y., Inc. NFP

(1) 2197782011

PreventBullyingNow@heyugly.org