Zoella EXCLUSIVE Interview: 'My Struggles With Anxiety - And How I Overcame It'

If you haven't heard of vlogging goddess and all-round Class A 'babe', Zoella yet – then where the HELL have you been exactly?

Clearly not on YouTube, where Zoella (AKA Zoe Sugg) has amassed just under SIX MILLION subscribers with her amazingly fantastical beauty and lifestyle videos.

Oh, and did we mention that she's also got two books, a (“very hush-hush”) make-up range AND a BBC Radio One show all coming up? Not to mention the millions of Twitter and Instagram followers who pretty much worship and adore her.

Yeah, not too shabby for a 24-year-old who, in her own words, “just makes some videos in her room”.

Anyway, we were #blessed enough to catch up with said internet superstar whilst she was hard at work with your pals and ours at Simple, helping them out as part of their 'Skin Intern Training Day'.

Now – we know what you're probably thinking: 'WOW – girl has got it made. GIVE ME HER PERFECT LIFE.'

Well, what you might not know about is the 'other side' of her recent successes: her struggles with anxiety, as well as being the victim of attacks on her size.

Not cool at all, we're sure you'd agree – and she's quick to assure us all that despite all the amazing stuff she gets to do, she's got the same insecurities as the rest of us: “I think that sometimes there's a misconception out there that all us vloggers have some sort of perfect life and it's all amazing.”

“But having the chance to speak about these other issues shows that no-one's life is perfect and that we're all pretty normal.”

And perhaps it's her 'normal', easy-going nature that's made her so popular with her audience - who enjoy a pretty close relationship with her: “I find that if [I] open up, then it gives people the chance to really open up themselves, and listen to what's going on inside. So many young teens are going through similar issues.”

And those issues include, of course, anxiety. An issue which she spoke openly about on ITV's 'This Morning' earlier this year, and something which she seems keen to break the 'taboo' about.

“I think anxiety is really common. I found I was experiencing it, and I had NO idea what it was. Not all of my friends had it, so I didn't really know how or who to talk about it with. I think there was a bit of a taboo about talking about things like that, but now as more and more people are sharing their stories that taboo is – I think – slowly disappearing.”

Zoe told us that it was by talking – through doing her videos and speaking publicly about it – which was a real help to her: “my advice would be to talk about it – refusing to talk about it only makes it worse.”

Very sound advice, we're sure you'd agree.

But for the time being anyway, things are definitely looking up for this YouTube superstar. She's even got her very make-up range coming out, but despite trying our darnedest to find out all we could, Zoe remained tight-lipped: “It's all very hush-hush at the moment – but it's really exciting! Hmm, what can I tell you? I'm looking at my manager now and he's raising his eyebrows, haha! “

“It's all stuff that I really like to use, all products that I absolutely love. Oh, and you can get it very soon. “

BUT WE WANT IT NOW ZOE!

Now, we all know that you're just DYING to find out what this bona fide beauty expert always has at the ready in her handbag, so before we let Zoe scoot off back to her webcam, we just HAD to find out what her desert island essentials would be – and what exactly she thinks the rest of us should be smearing over our faces (make-up wise, of course).

Zoella's Desert Island ESSENTIALS.

1) SPF  “Well you don't want to get wrinkled skin, do you?!”

2) Dry Shampoo  “You could wash your hair in the sea, but then it'll be all salty, wouldn't it?”

3) Lip Balm  “You need to stop your lips from getting chapped. And I'd go for tropical flavour, as it's a desert island, obviously.”

Zoella's favourite High Street make-up products

What's your favourite...foundation – “Hmm. Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation, I've used it for 2 years, and it has a great colour palette.”

What's your favourite... mascara -  “No.7 from Boots!”

What's your favourite... lipstick –  “I think Topshop, Infra-red. It's like a bright orange colour. I'm sure it'd look lovely on you.”

What's your favourite... eyeliner? -  “Oooh now that's a hard one. I'd say... Soap and Glory, they actually have really nice eyeliners.”

And there you have it. What a woman, eh?

Zoella is working with Simple Skin Social to provide you with tips on staying protected in the great outdoors. For hints and tips and to find out what her favourite goodies are, then head over to www.skinsocial.tumblr.com

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