Demi Lovato covers the latest issue of Cosmopolitan for Latinas hitting newsstands May 6. The 21-year-old entertainer who recently visited Kenya on her birthday for charity purposes instead of toasting her big day, had the following to share with the mag:

On former partying life: “I was used
 to drinking and doing drugs on my birthday. I always imagined my 21st being a huge party where I’d get sh*t-faced and go crazy. But I realized that there’s so much more to life than that. Imagine walking 10 miles a day just to get water for your family? We have so much to be grateful for.”

On staying sober: “It’s a daily thing. I treat it with medication. Not everybody does that, but for me it works. That’s what works for me — medicating, checking in with people, being honest and being grateful for things.

On keeping her bi-polar disorder in check: “It’s a daily thing. I treat it with medication. Not everybody does that, but for me it works. That’s what works for me – medicating, checking in with people, being honest, and being grateful for things.”

On inspiring young girls: “When I was younger, I needed someone in the spotlight to idolize, who stood for positivity and light and happiness, and wanted to change the world. And because I didn’t have that, I realized, I want to do that, if only for my 12-year-old little sister.”