Marina Diamandis, known for her music career, has ventured into poetry with her new book, Eat The World, which delves into personal themes including her struggle with an eating disorder. Previously recognized as Marina and the Diamonds, Diamandis had little interest in poetry until a transformative experience prompted her to write lyrics that didn’t conform to traditional song structures.

This collection of poems has been characterized by Vanity Fair as “insightful and introspective,” reflecting a profound sense of loneliness that has accompanied Diamandis throughout her life. The subjects explored range from challenging relationships and life in Los Angeles to embracing one’s identity as a woman in her 30s. Notably, she recounts her experiences with bulimia during her 20s.

Diamandis emphasizes that many themes in her poetry echo those present in her music. She often feels a sense of isolation and struggles with belonging. The first poem she shared online, titled Aspartame, encapsulates her journey of moving to Los Angeles at the age of 20 while grappling with an eating disorder and seeking validation from a man.

Bulimia is characterized by cycles of binge eating followed by purging behaviors, and it predominantly affects individuals aged 15 to 25. This disorder has appeared in her music before; for instance, the song Teen Idle from her 2012 album Electra Heart hints at her struggles with bulimia.

In Aspartame, she candidly describes the physical repercussions of bulimia—depicting herself as “rail thin in a polka dress” and highlighting the damage caused to her teeth. In another poem, Smoothness of Money, she reflects on the “binge-purge cycle.” Diamandis expresses that discussing these issues now is easier for her since she feels distanced from them and believes it’s crucial to eliminate the stigma surrounding such conditions.

Having experienced significant throat damage due to bulimia that hindered her singing ability was a turning point for Diamandis. Realizing that continuing down this path would jeopardize her dream motivated her decision to recover. She underwent a gradual recovery process over about ten years and stresses that eating disorders are often rooted in deeper issues beyond a desire to be thin.

For those who may be struggling with similar issues, she advises cultivating self-compassion rather than guilt. This sentiment is echoed by the charity Beat, which encourages individuals facing eating disorders to seek help without shame.

As she continues working on her sixth album, Diamandis envisions writing more poetry in the future but remains critical of society’s ongoing pressure regarding body image standards. Despite shifts toward different ideals of beauty, she worries about the implications for women today.