“I didn’t have any women in my life that I really trusted.”
With those words, singer and actress Demi Lovato summed up almost my entire teenage experience.
While promoting her latest film, Smurfs: The Lost Village, the 24-year-old confessed to Mamamia that for a whole chunk of her career, she chose to surround herself with men instead of women.
It’s a different take on what we’ve heard from female celebrities in recent years.
Our social media feeds are constantly flooded with stories about 'girl squads': groups of women who love and praise each other, acting as a far better cheer squad than any boyfriend - famous or otherwise - could.
Thankfully, in 2017, women have started to praise each other in the public eye with abandon, proving that powerful females aren't catty or competitive. Instead, they can be successful and supportive.
It's a welcome change from the Mean Girls line we have been fed for years. A line that I fell victim to in my teenage years.
During high school, most of the people I considered my closets friends were men. It's not that I didn't want girl friends, I just felt...safer...trusting men with my friendship.
I felt like they wouldn't judge me, they wouldn't try to compete with me or be jealous when I succeeded.
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Most of all, I didn't feel like they would wake up one morning and decide I wasn't worth their time, which is something I had experienced at the hands of some of my female friends.
It's a sentiment echoed by Demi, who spent the first years of her blossoming career touring, and surrounding herself, with men.
"In my work environment, I used to only surround myself with men," she told Mamamia.
"I only had guys in my band, and I toured with guys and my tour manager was a guy and this and that."
Now, the actress - who takes on the role of Smurfette in the upcoming animated film Smurfs: The Lost Village - has made a conscious effort to surround herself with women, and wants everyone to know what a difference it has made.
"I made a specific change. There was a time I used to say that I just didn't get along with girls," she said.
"I reevaluated why I didn't get along with girls, and I think it's because I didn't really have any in my life that I trusted.
"Now I've made it a point to surround myself with strong women and it's really made a difference in my life."
Demi said she turns to her female friends for "questions and advice", and sees them as role models and positive influences in her world.
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It's something Demi and her animated character have in common: the film centres on Smurfette, the only female in a village full of boys, and her journey to discover where she fits and who she can turn to for understanding.
"I really relate to Smurfette, because I was the only female for a little bit [in my world]," Demi said.
"I had to make changes in my life to surround myself with influences and people that I could relate to.
"I’m really grateful that I did."
Smurfs: The Lost Village is in Australian cinemas now.
