'Hid for years': Simmone Jade Mackinnon opens up about 'massive hair loss' after week of 'back-to-back panic attacks'

Former McLeod's Daughters and Baywatch actor Simmone Jade Mackinnon has opened up about developing "severe anxiety" that led to "massive hair loss".

On The Summit, Simmone explained that she and her 13-year-old son Madigan live in a caravan and she feels "really, really intense" financial pressure.

Stream every episode of The Summit for free on 9Now.

Hear more of what Simmone had to say in the video above.

"The last three years have been the hardest of my life and that caused severe anxiety," Simmone said.

"After a week of pretty much back-to-back panic attacks, that led to massive hair loss.

"There was big chunks just falling out so I had to shave it all off. You lose your hair and it's a massive psychological hit."

READ MORE: McLeod's Daughters star Simmone Jade Mackinnon opens up on the 'worst two years' of her life ahead of The Summit 2024

Simmone said she didn't feel "even remotely" like herself.

"I just hid. I hid away from everything and everyone for years," she said.

She is now taking on The Summit, attempting to make it to the top of a mountain in New Zealand's Southern Alps to earn a share of the $1 million prize money.

READ MORE: Here's which trekker left The Summit 2024 tonight

And while there are huge physical and mental obstacles along the way, Simmone has found another challenge to overcome.

"Because I've been in self-isolation I'm struggling to form connections," she said.

"That never used to be a problem for me, but here it's something that's challenging every day. I cannot let them think that I'm the weakest link."

Simmone also explained how her acting career took of and what her Baywatch co-star David Hasselhoff is really like.

EXCLUSIVE: The trekkers reveal the sentimental items they've brought with them to The Summit 2024

Hear more of what Simmone had to say in the video at the top of this article.

The Summit airs on Monday to Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Stream every episode of The Summit for free on 9Now.

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