Former I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! star Nicola McLean has launched a powerful defence of fellow campmate Kelly Brook, insisting the model should be praised for showcasing her natural beauty on the hit ITV show.
The Unfair Pressure to Stay the Same
McLean, 44, who herself appeared in the jungle back in 2008, highlighted the sad reality that Brook felt compelled to explain her changing appearance even before entering the camp. "No one looks the same as they did in their 20s," McLean stated bluntly in her column for the Mirror. She pointed out the universal truth that everyone ages, including models, and criticised the narrative used by online trolls who seem to demand that women like Brook remain frozen in time.
McLean expressed concern for Brook, noting that despite having a "thick skin" and armouring herself for the inevitable body criticism, the barrage of negative comments will likely "hit her hard" once she leaves the jungle.
A Double Standard for Women in the Public Eye
The discussion broadened to examine the different standards applied to women in the public eye. McLean contrasted the treatment of Brook with that of other female celebrities. She observed that Vogue Williams and Myleene Klass are largely seen as "aesthetically acceptable" and "natural women" in the jungle, despite Vogue's own admissions about cosmetic procedures.
Meanwhile, McLean argued that a 72-year-old like Ruby Wax avoids similar body criticism, while Brook, at 46, is not permitted to look her age. She also noted that presenter Lisa Riley, who was never a pin-up, is attacked differently online, and that men, such as Martin Kemp, are simply called "handsome gentlemen."
You Can't Win as a Woman
Drawing from her own painful experience, McLean revealed she was "horrendously trolled" for her breast implants during her time on the show. "You can't win as a woman," she lamented. "I am plastic, I've had my boobs done, so I’m not seen in the same way as Vogue and Myleene."
She acknowledged her own personal choice to use Botox and filler to preserve her looks but commended Brook for deciding she is happy as she is. "Trolls want you to stay looking the same as you did, and that's impossible," McLean concluded, highlighting the no-win situation women face whether they choose to age naturally or seek cosmetic help.
Finally, she raised a crucial question about the wider impact of such trolling, asking what message this sends to women and girls not in the public eye. If some of the world's most beautiful women are attacked for their appearance, how is the average woman supposed to feel about her own body?
