Last year Amanda Bynes was hardly out of the headlines, this year, so far, the former actress has been keeping a relatively low profile as she continues on her road to recovery. On Friday new pictures emerged of the actress looking healthy and happy during a college fashion show event, looking like she's responding to her new life as a student well and might be starting to put her troubles behind her.

Amanda Bynes in 2011Amanda Bynes in 2011, before her much publicised struggles

The pictures posted to her twitter account on March 22nd, paint a very different picture of the former child star than we were used to seeing in recent months. Her very public battle with mental health issues unfortunately found itself being played out in the public eye throughout last year and the actress found herself being a subject of both ridicule and concern in the media.

The former Nickelodeon star had already been arrested for DUI’s and drug possession, before things came to a head last July when she was found allegedly starting a fire in her neighbours drive in Thousand Oaks, California. The incident led to her being put under a psychiatric hold whilst her mental health was evaluated, with her parents eventually being granted conservatorship of their daughter as well as her finances. Amanda was later said to be formally diagnosed with with 'schizophrenia and bipolar disorder' during her stay at UCLA Medical Centre . Bynes then began a lengthly stay in rehab, which she was reported to have completed in December 2013 after which she moved back in with her parents Lynn and Rick.

Amanda Bynes in 2007Amanda Bynes at the 'Hairspray' premiere in 2007

In the new year, Bynes began a new chapter in her life and career, enrolling in the ‘Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising’ in California where she has been taking classes, thought to be in merchandise product development. Her new life as a student has seen her keep a relatively low profile with E! reporting a source describing her as ‘a great student who always participated and really cared about her classes," adding, ‘she really fit in and loves her school.’ Amanda herself first acknowledged her new direction when she tweeted on March 1st, ’hi everyone! I'm busy studying at @FIDM but I want to say I love you to my fans! Xoxo Amanda’. She then followed up the announcement with a self portrait sketch 9 days later showing off her creative skills. Ironically it was through her twitter that she first got public attention for her change in behaviour but now she seems to be using it positively to show the progress she’s making.

Next page: see the images that Amanda Bynes shared