Demi Lovato would prefer to be a role model than ''vain''.

The 'Skyscraper' hitmaker entered rehab in 2010 for a variety of issues, including an eating disorder and she admits she can empathise with those people who choose to ''shy'' away from setting an example.

However, the 22-year-old star admits she now embraces her role model status, explaining: ''I really embraced the whole role model thing, because when I was younger I realised that shying away from it and denying that I was gonna be a role model only made me resent the fact that people were putting boundaries on me of things I can and cannot do.

''I think that's why a lot of people shy from it, rightfully so. People sometimes just want to live their lives.

''At that moment, I knew I was doing a lot of things that weren't right and weren't role model-like until the day that I saw everything in the bigger picture where my voice - if you live your whole career just singing and just taking pictures and just living in front of everyone, if you don't use your voice for good, it's actually a very vain career, a narcissistic career.''

She added to 'Access Hollywood': ''I think it's important for people to realise that celebrities are human beings and that nobody has it easy just because they are a celebrity and people that you think are flawless are actually flawed themselves, sometimes more than you are.''