The Skyscraper hitmaker, who has endured her own struggles with bullies, famously attacked her half-sister's critics online last year (14), after they made fun of the 13 year old's curved spine condition scoliosis in a video clip of the siblings in the kitchen.

De La Garza, who played Eva Longoria's onscreen daughter in Desperate Housewives, insists she would rather ignore the hateful comments than call them out online, but she appreciates Lovato having her back.

The teenager tells Seventeen magazine, "Last year I got a ton of negative comments after I posted a Vine on Twitter where I was cooking with Demi. People made fun of me, saying I had a hunchback.

"Demi freaked and direct-messaged people to yell at them, and she tweeted at her followers to stand up for me. Sometimes I wish she wouldn't give people attention - I've learned not to - but when people hate on me, she can't really hold back. She's strong and she's a free spirit, and that's what I love about her."

De La Garza goes on to insist it's tough having a superstar for a big sister as she's always away from home, saying, "I think when people say they wish Demi Lovato was their sister, they don't realise how hard it is to be related to someone who's constantly away on tour. But she's good at making time for me."

Lovato also encourages her sister to reach out to her whenever she needs to talk, telling the publication, "I want her to come to me with things. I just let her know that I'm always there for her, whether I'm on the other side of the world or I'm next door."