Former model Jodie Marsh came back onto the media radar last year when she decided to get serious about body building. Back in November 2011 Models Direct bloggers acknowledged her efforts with some concern in an article that questioned her weightloss methods – Jodie Marsh’s New Look – Irresponsible Or Inspirational? But the 33-year-old has since proved that – irresponsible or not – her methods are gaining her the results that she’s been gunning for.

Marsh entered and won an international championship in America last week and in an interview with The Sun, revealed just how much her bodybuilding meant to her, telling them: “I can honestly say these are the best years of my life. I can’t even describe how good it is just to finally feel like I am doing something positive.

“I’ve always wanted to do something good but people would never take me seriously. Now they are. I feel so fit and healthy and ripped and strong. It’s so good to put the bad times behind me.”

Marsh has clearly struggled with personal demons for much of her life. When she first came into the public eye she was no stranger to unhappy relationships, and this trend continued into her public life.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a genuine relationship,” she shared. “Nobody has cared for me, wanted me to be happy, got to know the real me. Over the years they’ve lied, cheated, hit me, stolen from me and used me to get famous.”

This situation wasn’t improved by a humiliating appearance on Celebrity Big Brother, where the model clashed with housemates and was left feeling desperate and depressed: “About six months after Celebrity Big Brother I decided I was going to kill myself. I was sick of everyone being so horrible to me. I was having a meltdown.”

Now she says that body building has turned her life around: “I have never had so much support — and it feels so good. Even more so because of how bad things got for me. I can’t express how grateful I am for my life right now.”

Though body building has clearly helped Marsh to mend some of these deep wounds, models and agents at Models Direct were disappointed to hear that it has also led to the endorsement of a supplement that may not be safe.

The product – known as Rage212 – contains a banned substance, and so much caffeine that she can’t even take it herself without breaking the rules of the competitions in which she competes. It comes with the warning, ‘Always use extreme caution and never exceed the suggested dose’, and she has been criticised for promoting it.

While many will sympathise with her personal struggles over the years and commend Marsh on her determined attitude to turn things around, her obsessive tendencies still threaten to let her – and others who are influenced by her – down.

Models Direct hopes that Jodie Marsh will eventually find a good balance in her mental and physical health. Meanwhile we urge others to put their health first when embarking on any fitness regime.