‘Pretty Little Liars’ Star Troian Bellisario Talks About Eating Disorder Weeks After Shaming New 4B Poster

The characters on “Pretty Little Liars” have a lot of secrets that they are keeping hidden from the audience, however actress Troian Bellisario is coming clean about one: The 28-year-old used to struggle with an eating disorder and cutting in high school.

“I started self-harming when I was a junior,” the actress who plays Spencer Hastings revealed to Seventeen Magazine. “I would withhold food or withhold going out with my friends, based on how well I did that day in school.”

Her interview, which can be found in the February issue of the magazine, goes in depth about her struggles and how she sought professional treatment for her disorder. And although she now no longer suffers from an eating disorder, Bellisario explained that being on the hit ABC Family series does take a toll on her.

“Sometimes I’ve felt like a fraud,” she continued of looking like she belongs. “Like, I’m not like these other girls – I don’t dress like that and don’t know how to do my hair. The minute I’m off that stage, I try to get as ‘me’ as possible. I do that by piling on my black eyeliner, and I put on my ripped tights. Dressing like myself again helps.”

Troian Bellisario’s interview with Seventeen comes a couple weeks after she took to Twitter to shame the new “Pretty Little Liars” season 4B poster. The photo shows partial profiles of actresses Lucy Hale, Ashley Benson, Troian Bellisario and Shay Mitchell with large hair and a lot of makeup.

The new poster was initially called out by Benson, who posted the following on Twitter along with the photo: “Saw this floating around. Hope it’s not the poster. Our faces in this were from 4 years ago … and we all look ridiculous. Way too much Photoshop. We all have flaws. No one looks like this. It’s not attractive.”

Bellisario echoed Benson’s comments, tweeting: “Wow @itsashbenzo I couldn’t agree more. Very cool concept as always. But aren’t we attractive enough women as we are? Why can’t we just look like us. Once.”

“Pretty Little Liars” creator I. Marlene King responded to fans who were enquiring about the promo photo, explaining that she’s not involved with the posters and that “we are all beautiful.”

“Pretty Little Liars” returns to ABC Family for season 4B on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 8 p.m.