'How I overcame bulimia' Kiwi model talks veganism

Lemkus overhauled her diet when she fell pregnant. Photo / Instagram

At 15-years-old, Sarah Lemkus was spotted at a mall and began a modelling career which included a spot on New Zealand's Next Top Model.

Lemkus, now 24, has opened up about the modelling industry and her battle with bulimia.

"I'm going to start throwing up which is awful. Yeah it happened and a few months down the track I thought 'okay this is a habit now'," she told TVNZ.

View this post on Instagram

If your smoothie isn't brown you're not doing it right! 💚+💜=🙊 There are bananas, frozen blueberries, walnuts, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds, spinach, chlorella, tahini, dates and water in this not so pretty one. Eat nuts and seeds for healthy shinny hair ✌🌻🌻🌻

A post shared by Sarah Lemkus (@sarahlemkus) on Oct 8, 2016 at 12:59am PDT

When Lemkus found out she was pregnant, she decided to overhaul her poor diet habits and become vegan.

The Kiwi was inspired by people like Loni Jane Anthony, an Australian who followed a plant-based diet during pregnancy.

"What I'd learnt from them was mind-boggling. Not only was it completely safe, it is much healthier for the baby and the mother," she said.

"Vegan pregnancies create healthier babies and have overall less complications.

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What I eat vegan & healthy video now up! Link in bio. This morning I'm cooking up a storm getting ready for Christmas. On the menu is Tumeric Coconut Curry, Lentil Lasagna, the dish pictured - Simple Quinoa Salad and lots and lots of veggggeees 🎄#1daytogo

A post shared by Sarah Lemkus (@sarahlemkus) on Dec 23, 2016 at 12:55pm PST

"Falling pregnant was the best thing that had happened to me, my husband as well as my health.

"I pursued a vegan diet in the beginning to get thin, not for the cruelty of the animals or the nutritional and environmental aspects that come with it.

"But, as soon as my body became my baby's also, my mindset changed. It was all about nutrition. I would constantly ask myself 'what can I eat that will give my body and my baby the most nutrients?' "

Lemkus uploads weekly videos about her family and veganism to YouTube and wants to "touch as many people's lives as possible".