Fashion model and social media influencer Ruby Tuesday Matthews has claimed she once followed a strict diet of “cigarettes, long blacks and cocaine” to maintain her online image, and shockingly admits other influencers do the same.
Matthews, from Byron Bay, NSW, made the admission in a fan question-and-answer series on her Instagram page, which boasts over 193,000 followers.
One follower asked how she maintained her slim frame, with Matthews explaining it was down to her lifestyle of “tapas and cocaine.”
“Basically I just smoked cigarettes, had long blacks, and did coke. And in between, [ate] tapas. My life was tapas and cocaine.”
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Matthews went on to say fans would always question how she maintained her physique.
“People don’t realise how easy it is to hide something. Whether it’s addiction, depression, anxiety, it’s easy to hide those things”, she reflected.
The popular blogger also spoke openly about her addiction, adding many of her fellow influencers also lean on the bad habit.
“I’ve got to be careful what I’m saying here, but…in the modelling industry, and now the influencer industry, everyone loves the baggies,” she said.
“But that is how most physiques are maintained, that’s how exactly my physique was maintained.”
The 25-year-old is now a proud mother of two, and attests her children for breaking the harmful vice.
“I didn’t know I was pregnant. I was with a friend and we were out at a party and I was feeling really sick and went home. I had the worst hangover the next day, and I never used to get them,” she told her followers.
A pregnancy test soon revealed she was expecting her first child, which left Matthews immediately concerned her big night out might have harmed her unborn baby. Doctors reassured her everything was fine, Matthews says.
“I didn’t think I was pregnant – I was really thin and partying a lot and no one thought I would be able to fall pregnant.”
Matthews is hoping her openness about her struggles will resonate with others.
“I have battled with mental health demons on and off for most of my life. It is a topic I am going to be talking about a lot more this year,” she said.
If you or someone you know needs help call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit Lifeline.org.au.
