Rebecca Hands, 21, of Southend, Essex, weighed just four stone at the height of her illness.
She spent most of her school years "in and out" of hospital as she survived on just 120 calories a day - a fraction of the recommended intake of just under 2,000.
"I would be in the street and people would call me 'Skeletor'," she said. "It was really hard."
Now back to a "healthy weight", she is looking to rebuild her life and is in the finals of a modelling competition.
She is one of 25 contestants, whittled down from 170, competing to become Miss Essex FM 2008, which will be judged next month.
"I never thought I would have the confidence to strut down the catwalk dressed in a bikini - it's something that wouldn't have entered my head," she said.
"But getting through to the final, and even having the courage to enter the contest, has given me the confidence I need.
"I've been battling anorexia for so long, but at last I finally feel I have turned a corner and am making a recovery."
She said she is hoping to get a job or study at college in the near future.
Her parents, Debbie, 50, and Kevin, 58, said they were proud of their daughter's progress.
"She suffered with anorexia for 10 years and we nearly lost her three times," said Mrs Hands.
"For her to even take part in the competition is huge and we're really proud of her."
