Strictly: Maisie Smith jokes about her ’struggle’ in training

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Insecurities about her image leads to Tiffany going behind TV husband Keegan Baker’s back and paying for fillers, to which she has an allergic reaction to and ends up in hospital. The episode hinted at more heartbreak for the character as things between Keegan and Dotty Cotton heat up in the Eastenders square.

Talking about the storyline to Digital Spy Maisie said: “She’s an 18 year old, she’s been through a lot as a character and she’s quite insecure about herself.

“She’s a very relatable character on the show. She’s young, she’s in love, and she’s got a lot of pressure on her as well as being a teenager and being hormonal and experiencing what a normal teenager would experience. She’s got a lot of insecurities in herself.”

For Maisie, she can relate to her character more than anyone due to her personal health struggles.

Shooting to fame at a tender age of six years-old would take its toll on anybody.

And at the age of 13 Maisie spoke out about her battles with body dysmorphia and wishing she was thinner due to the pressures of being on screen.

In an emotional Instagram video back in April 2020 she was seen singing and playing guitar with the caption- ‘If you’re feeling particularly down at the moment- don’t worry you’re not alone, I wrote this yesterday to heal my mind.’

Accompanying the caption was the lyrics where she addressed her mental state, she sings: “When I was little I would look in the mirror, holding in my stomach wishing that I was thinner.

“Guess I had a case of body dysmorphia – and I still haven’t shaken it off.

“Things were getting heavy, that’s what the scales told me.

“Only 13 years old, wiping the tears of my cheeks, it felt like no-one else around me really understood.”

Body dysmorphic disorder or BDD for short is a mental health condition where individuals constantly worry about the flaws in their appearance, according to the NHS website.

These flaws that people become anxious over and feel the need to change are often unnoticed by others, but they can have serious effects on the individual’s life.

The mental health charity Mind describes the obsessive and compulsive thoughts and behaviours someone might be having which could signal they may be suffering with BDD.

These signs include: if you experience obsessive worries about one or multiple perceived flaws in your physical appearance, or if you develop compulsive behaviours and routines, such as excessive use of mirrors or picking your skin, to deal with the worries you have about the way you look.

If you find yourself using heavy make-up, changing your posture, constantly seeking reassurance or exercising excessively then it might be wise to seek guidance from your GP.

Although symptoms differ from person to person, if left untreated these thoughts can manifest and develop into other problems such as:

• Feelings of shame, guilt or loneliness
• Isolating yourself to avoid situations that cause you anxiety or discomfort
• Depression or anxiety
• Misuse of alcohol or other drugs
• Feeling you need unnecessary medical procedures, such as cosmetic surgery
• Eating disorders
• Self-harm
• Suicidal thoughts.

In accordance with the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, treatment for BDD involves cognitive behavioural therapy, medication or specialist services such as being assessed by the community mental health team.

It is also important to practise good self-care techniques and improve your wellbeing to alleviate these intrusive thoughts and behaviours.

The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation can also offer support. 

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