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

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 chase his dreams of being a professional singer after winning Australia’s Got Talent in 2011, aged 14. 

And unfortunately a damaging and reckless comment from an ‘industry insider’ saw him dangerously shed 20kg in his pursuit for fame and fortune.

‘Someone when I was 15 gave a message to my manager that I was “too fat”,’ Jack will reveal to his I’m A Celebrity camp mates on Wednesday, News.com.au reports.

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‘I had huge body issues’: I’m A Celebrity star Jack Vidgen, 23, has revealed that he lost 20kg in his teens in his desperate attempt to ‘make it’ in Los Angeles after an industry insider said he was ‘too fat’. Pictured on 2021 season of I’m A Celebrity

THEN: Jack Vidgen first rose to fame as the baby-faced teenager who won Australia's Got Talent almost a decade ago at the age of 14. Pictured in 2011

THEN: Jack Vidgen first rose to fame as the baby-faced teenager who won Australia’s Got Talent almost a decade ago at the age of 14. Pictured in 2011

Still new to the entertainment industry, Jack heartbreakingly revealed that he felt his career as a pop star ‘was riding on it [his weight]’.

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

After winning AGT’s $250,000 prize money, Jack relocated to Los Angeles alone at the age of 16 in the hopes of breaking into the international music scene. 

Unfortunately, the money soon ran dry and he returned to Australia two years later to work in an aged-care home.     

‘I stopped eating. It was horrible. I tried to mask it with a healthy way and say, “I’m in LA and I’m doing the green juices and I’m going vegan”, but really I was just starving myself and having a juice for dinner,’ Jack explained of the unhealthy habits he developed in his teens. 

'I stopped eating. It was horrible': Jack said he lost 20kg by essentially 'starving himself' in Los Angeles as he tried to 'make it' in the industry as a professional singer

‘I stopped eating. It was horrible’: Jack said he lost 20kg by essentially ‘starving himself’ in Los Angeles as he tried to ‘make it’ in the industry as a professional singer 

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

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

Jack has previously spoken about his cosmetic procedures, and even addressed them on I’m A Celebrity with his camp mates in recent episodes.  

My, how you have changed! The Voice star Jack Vidgen debuted a VERY glamorous new look over Christmas Pictured: left in 2011, right in 2020

My, how you have changed! The Voice star Jack Vidgen debuted a VERY glamorous new look over Christmas Pictured: left in 2011, right in 2020

My, how you have changed! Jack debuted a VERY glamorous new look over Christmas. Pictured: left in 2011, right in 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 singing contest, Jack also 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 on Wednesday from 7:30pm on Channel 10. Pictured: hosts Dr Chris Brown and Julia Morris

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

Support contacts 

Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 33 4673 (1800 ED HOPE) 

For urgent support call Lifeline 13 11 14