Demi Lovato: I should have rested

Demi Lovato wishes she'd taken longer to return to the public eye after her rehab stint.

The singer entered a treatment facility in 2010 and has spoken about her bipolar disorder and struggles with eating disorders and self-harming.

She appeared as a judge on the last series of US X Factor and although she thoroughly enjoyed the experience, Lovato thinks it came at the wrong time.

"I wish I had waited to go back on camera a little longer, but it ended up working out great and I didn't have any issues with it. Luckily, that was the way that it turned out," she told Parade magazine.

Lovato was joined on the American talent show by Britney Spears, L.A. Reid and Simon Cowell. The star confirmed on Thursday she will be returning to the judging panel for the programme's next season and she's upset her friends Spears and Reid decided to withdraw from their posts.

"I'm really bummed that they left because I obviously would want them to be there. It's their careers and they started off doing music so they've got to focus on what they started off doing," she said.

The 20-year-old star is especially pleased to have been involved with a TV talent show as the phenomenon spawned one of her favourite artists, Kelly Clarkson. Lovato is inspired by former American Idol winner Clarkson and thinks she's the sort of person more young girls should look up to.

"I just thought she was a great role model. She was never publicly seen drinking and driving or wearing really scandalous clothes or anything like that. I feel like she set a really great example and she was extremely talented," the star explained.

- Cover Media