Alexa Penavega Opens Up About 'Silent Struggle' With Bulimia

Alexa PeneVega might have exited from 'Dancing With The Stars' but she left a lasting impression when she left the dance floor. The 'Spy Kids' star was send home on Monday night after what happened to be her best night in the competition.

Before she was set to perform with dancing partner, Mark Ballas, she told of her previous struggles with her weight and how it had an impact on her career, a report with E!Online said. She recounted of an experience while she was working on film when she was much younger and the producers kept on pointing out her weight, saying that she was "too fat."

"I struggled with bulimia for so long," the actress said. "And even though I got through it, I feel like a lot of my insecurities from my body are from that."

She also explained that it was this struggle that drove her to enter the dancing competition with husband, Carlos PeneVega. Both she and her huband were in danger of being eliminated on Monday's episode of 'Dancing With The Stars'. It was an emotional moment for both husband and wife as they knew that either one of them would be leaving that night.

The 27-year-old actress admitted that she face a six-year 'silent' battle with bulimia and that she had struggled to conquer the eating disorder. She also added that while the struggle was scary, she said that you got to 'enjoy it'. The struggle with weight and trying to look good enough was something she had to live through when she was younger. 

"I wish I'd had somebody who could have told me, 'It's scary.' You struggle giving it up. You want to get rid of it but you struggle because, in a strange way, you enjoy it." she told People Magazine.

Despite receiving perfect 10s from the judges and also garnering a standing ovation, she and her dancing partner Ballas were booted out of the competition. However, PeneVega took this as a victory on her part and said she is now focused on helping people who also struggle with eating disorders. She adds that she wants people who struggle with bulimia or anorexia to know that they can indeed conquer their demons. 

"I went through a big battle and all I wanted to do was move and inspire people and show them that bulimia is something that you can get over. That's really all I wanted tonight." she said.