Schapelle Corby: 'I've always struggled with my weight'

Schapelle Corby has given her first exclusive media interview to Woman's Day magazine, saying she's just so happy to be alive.

The Gold Coast native spent nine years behind bars in Bali's  Kerobokan Prison before being released on parole and returning to Australia in May 2017.

Image: Woman's Day

Corby spoke candidly about her new life, telling Woman’s Day she’s living with her mum Rosleigh Rose and starts each day by reading.

“I just live day by day,” she said.

Corby said she isn’t working so tries to fill her days by being active, including swimming in her mum’s pool and at her local beach.

Read more: Schapelle Corby back in hospital 

The 41-year-old also revealed she is struggling to keep her weight in check, after putting on weight during a juice cleanse.

“I’ve always struggled with my weight,” she said. “If I’m active I have a fit body, but if I’m not active I have the body type that gets fat overnight.”

Corby also says mental illness and anti-psychotic medication also led her to put on weight.

“When all those larger pictures came out, I was on very strong anti-psychotics…I started to cut down on the medication after four years.”

The convicted drug mule says she’s astounded by her huge social media following, with over 200,000 social media followers on her official Instagram account.

“It’s good for me to have it because I get to stick up for myself,” she told Woman’s Day.

“When I broke my leg, obviously I had to go to hospital, and there was a paparazzi following me.

“Instead of him getting paid for it I could just put it online myself.”

She says it’s good to have a voice but also to take control of her story.

“I couldn’t go out of my house for three weeks before leaving Bali because my street was full of media,” she said.

Despite the challenges her new life brings, Corby says she’s just so happy.

“I’m just happy to be alive. I’m going to cry…I’m just so happy to be alive.”

Schapelle Corby was convicted of smuggling cannabis into Indonesia in May, 2005, after the drugs were found in her boogie board bag. She has maintained her innocence, saying she didn’t know the drugs were in there.

Corby was sentenced to 20 years by the Denpasar District Court and imprisoned in Kerobokan Prison.

After a failed appeal, Corby petitioned the President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for clemency due to mental illness.

She was granted a five-year reduced sentence and released on parole in February, 2014.

Corby was deported from Indonesia and returned to Australia on 27 May, 2017.

Read the full story in Woman's Day, out now.