Gemma Collins has been flooded with support from fans as she promoted body confidence while posing in various swimwear during the Bank Holiday weekend. The reality star, 45, has been candid about her body image struggles since rising to fame on The Only Way Is Essex, and she shared another empowering message on social media while enjoying the sunshine.
In the first photo, the former I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! contestant beamed in a baby pink swimsuit as she basked in the warm weather by the pool. She wrote on Instagram: "LOVING THE SUN Wishing you all a lovely bank holiday Get your body in the sun, let your soul exhale Body confidence isn't a size, it's an energy. Own your glow, take up space, wear the swimsuit, dive in the pool, laugh louder, live softer. The sun was never asking for perfection… only presence."
In a second snap, Gemma wore a hot pink bikini as she entered the pool and flashed a peace sign. Addressing her two million followers, she said: "Wear the swimsuit darlings … Your body is not here to apologise. It's here to live, to swim, to laugh, to glow in the sunshine and take up every inch of joy it deserves!"
A third image showed the engaged star in an animal print swimsuit, posing confidently in the pool with her hand on her hip. She added: "Woke up this morning and patted myself on the back, I've never had a bad looking boyfriend !!! X Always pulled a sort and that really hit today #beyourownsunshine guys!"
Fans quickly applauded her bold statements. One commented: "Absolutely beautiful words! Yes true in every letter!" Another wrote: "You're such a lovely woman with a beautiful soul and looking [fire emoji] have a cracking bank hols also xx" A third said: "Your words last couple of days are literally getting me through my holiday!"
Towards the end of last year, Gemma joined former campmates from I'm A Celebrity to film the All Stars version in South Africa. When the show aired in April, she expressed shock at how much weight she lost during her second jungle stint. She had taken Mounjaro weight loss injections before the trip but had to stop after a gallbladder attack. Speaking to OK! magazine, she said: "When they weighed me I'd lost 1st 4lb (8kg)." She also described her time in South Africa as the "best digital detox and spiritual healing."
Earlier this year, reports indicated Gemma had dropped four dress sizes and over two stone using fat loss injections. She previously said she had "tried almost every diet" without success and, after careful consideration, began GLP-1 weight loss injections under medical supervision. She revealed: "I'm on those weight-loss injections at the minute. People used to call me 'three-course Collins' and now I can only eat one course. It's really amazing. I want to be open with everything I do in my life. There's no point in lying to the people who love me and that's the public. I wouldn't be where I am today without the public. I just always want to be transparent."
