Demi Lovato won't be defined by her past.

Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato

The 25-year-old pop star - who went to rehab in 2010 to seek treatment for a dependence on alcohol and drugs, and get therapy for an eating disorder and self-harming - has been "moulded" by her previous experiences but insists she's moved on as she's grown up.

She said: "I think that there's a difference when it comes to being defined by something and defining yourself as the person you are today.

"The person that I am today has been moulded from my past experiences, but I don't let those past experiences determine the person that I am today. It doesn't define me, and I think that there's a difference. I think that it comes with growth and maturity. I think that it comes with understanding and lots of wisdom."

The 'Sorry Not Sorry' hitmaker split from Wilmer Valderrama after six years of dating in June 2016 and she found being single kept her "less distracted and more focused" while making her latest album, 'Tell Me You Love Me'.

Speaking to Arianna Huffington for Thrive Global Podcast with iHeartRadio, she said: "Whenever I had downtime, instead of going off and being with my boyfriend or doing anything like that, I would go to the studio, and so I had all this extra time in the studio that great things came out of."

Demi - who recently admitted she is open to dating men and women - advised her young fans to "choose wisely" when it comes to embarking on a long-term relationship.

She said: "I think that when you find something that's very special to you, don't deny yourself of the opportunity.

"It is important to remember that you are young and you have a lot of life ahead of you. So, with that in mind, make your future decisions, choose them wisely."