Elle Macpherson has revealed her previous struggles with alcohol, sharing that she would drink vodka nightly after her children were asleep.

In her latest book, Elle: Life, Lessons, and Learning to Trust Yourself, which launched on September 3, she discussed these challenges on the Carrie and Tommy radio show. She confessed to falling asleep from the alcohol after her sons, Flynn and Cy, had gone to bed.

“It wasn’t a secret; it was just a part of my daily routine,” said Macpherson, who is now 60 years old.

During this time, her children’s father, Arpad Busson, was often out of the country, only returning home on weekends, which left her handling the domestic responsibilities solo. “That was my routine when I was alone with the kids,” she commented.

Macpherson also revealed that she would force herself to vomit three times before going to bed in an attempt to rid her body of booze.

“I used to think if I throw up I wouldn’t have the alcohol in my system. How bonkers is that?” she remarked, adding that her drinking and throwing up were attempts to “control the outside world so I would feel at peace inside.”

Macpherson, who has now been sober for 20 years and credits Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) for her recovery, said she was concerned about being recognised at her first meeting.

“Here I was thinking everybody was like, ‘Oh my god, that’s [Elle Macpherson]’…nobody gives a s**t.

“Everybody is on their own journey, they’re trying to get well, they’re trying to capture the pieces of their life that they’ve let go of.

“They’re on their own journey. The last thing they’re thinking about is me, and that’s the healthiest place to be in.”

Macpherson also shares in her book that she was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago, but declined chemotherapy, opting instead for a holistic approach to her treatment – going against the advice of 32 doctors.

“It was a shock, it was unexpected, it was confusing, it was daunting in so many ways and it really gave me an opportunity to dig deep in my inner sense to find a solution that worked for me,” she wrote in an exclusive excerpt published in the Australian Woman’s Weekly on Monday.

She consulted a diverse team consisting of a naturopathic doctor, a holistic dentist, an osteopath, a chiropractor, and two therapists.

While reflecting on a beach in Miami, the model chose to follow a holistic method focused on intuition and heart, guided by her primary doctor who practices integrative medicine. This form of medicine combines traditional medical treatment with therapies that focus on the mind and body.

Macpherson shared that rejecting conventional drug treatments was “the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” yet she believed that not listening to her inner voice would be even more challenging.

Despite facing criticism and being labeled as “crazy,” she remained committed to her decision that deeply resonated with her.

She ultimately placed herself under the care of a team of specialists, including her primary doctor, a naturopath, a holistic dentist, an osteopath, a chiropractor, and two therapists.

She now says she is in clinical remission, describing her current state as “utter wellness”.

If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer, Macmillan can offer support and information. You can contact their helpline on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week from 8am to 8pm), use their webchat service, or visit theirsite for more information.