Gemma Atkinson has revealed she was given some blunt feedback from a close family member about a see-through dress she wore to an event. The Hits Radio presenter and podcaster was speaking on the Lost In Translation podcast she co-hosts with her fiancé Gorka Marquez when they began discussing what she had been up to recently.
Gemma, 42, confessed to having had a busy week at the time of recording, one which included hosting two events, including the Cure Usher Ball to raise money for research into Usher Syndrome, a rare condition that causes hearing and vision loss among other symptoms. She wore different dresses for both events and then started talking about her outfits with former Strictly Come Dancing pro Gorka, 36.
Stylist's daring lace dress choice
Gorka asked listeners if they could “just appreciate how beautiful and hot you look in both days”. He seemed to be a big fan of Gemma's lace dress in particular, which she showcased on Instagram, adding: “The one on the Saturday, the see-through one, how amazing you look”.
In response, Gemma thanked her fiancé, who proposed to her on Valentine's Day in 2021, but started a tale about how much of a faff the outfit had been initially, as it is one traditionally worn without underwear underneath. What followed was a story about how the former Emmerdale actress's stylist, Ryan Kay, had come round to her house with the dress he had picked out for Gemma, who admitted she was shocked by the outfit at first.
Daughter's honest observation
She recalled: “I just went, 'What do you mean, 'Here's the dress', it's lace it's see-through'. He went, 'Honestly babes'. He said the flowers are just placed in the precise areas so everything's covered. And I went, 'Absolutely, go eff yourself. Absolutely not'. I was like these chebs have breastfed two kids, I was like, 'No. Regardless of where the flowers are placed, I have to wear underwear'.”
In response, Ryan added a bra and some pants to the arrangement, but Gemma understandably wanted to feel more comfortable, given she was going to be on stage in front of hundreds of people. Still not pleased with the look, Gemma asked if there was any way for her to be more covered up in the lace design, at which point her stylist said he would go to M&S, returning with a bodice and some knickers to wear underneath.
Once she felt comfortable, Gemma showed the look to her seven-year-old daughter Mia, one of two children she shares with Gorka, alongside three-year-old Thiago, who made an intriguing observation. Gemma said: “For anyone brave enough to do it how it's supposed to look on the catwalk, bravo to you. I just wasn't brave enough. And I still showed Mia and she went, 'Mum I can see your knickers'…but Ryan said [Gorka] had messaged him saying it was your favourite look.”
Despite the wardrobe malfunction fears over the outfit, Gemma found the right balance and posted the photos on Instagram where she received rave reviews from fans who described her look as “fantastic”, “amazing”, “stunning”, and “beautiful”.
