Whenever we chat to Imogen Thomas, it’s like catching up with an old friend. The model and reality star is always refreshingly open – and it’s no different when we sit down with her over afternoon tea at London’s Corinthia Hotel in aid of Breast Cancer Now.
Imogen, who has daughters Ariana, eight, and Siera, five, with ex-boyfriend Adam Horsley, is enjoying a rare afternoon away from home since pandemic restrictions started easing. And while she’s excited about things returning to normal, she admits she feels anxious after being stuck indoors for the majority of the past year.
The former Big Brother star has been single since splitting up with Adam in 2018 after six years together. She says she enjoyed some casual chats on dating apps during lockdown, but tells us her love life is “nonexistent”.
Here, Imogen, 38, also remembers her close friend Nikki Grahame, who died from anorexia in April, and opens up about her own issues with mental health…
Hi Imogen! How have you found the past year?
Lockdown was fine for me – I actually really enjoyed it. Now that everything is opening up again, I thought I would be absolutely fine, but going to places and having dinner reservations is giving me a bit of anxiety. But it is nice to get everything back to normal a bit more.
How did your girls cope in lockdown?
They were fine. They loved being at home, but the homeschooling was extremely difficult. Especially for my oldest because she just couldn’t be bothered. A lot of the time I was like, “OK, if you don’t want to do it, don’t do it then.” But then, because I was giving her that attitude, she was like, “I better do it!” During the second lockdown, her school started doing lessons online, which was good because then she had to do the work. I think for everyone who has kids, it was stressful.
Did you worry about work?
I actually worked a lot during lockdown. I own five houses now, so they keep me busy and I was also doing a lot of Instagram work. Apart from that, I’m happy just floating around. Of course, if I get work, I’ll take it, but I’m older now, so I’m not literally banging on doors like I was back in the day.
How’s your love life at the moment?
It’s nonexistent! It was more active during lockdown in terms of speaking to guys. But now that everything is opening up again and everyone is out and about, it’s like they can’t be bothered to talk. I’m getting that kind of vibe. I’m not really talking to anyone now. And I don’t have a nanny at the minute, so I’m busy with the girls, but I do go out when the kids go to their dad’s. They go to him every other weekend so that gives me time to go out and do my own stuff.
Are you civil with their dad, Adam?
We’re on good terms. He helps out loads with the kids. As long as he’s a good dad, I don’t care about anything else. And he is. You’ve got to put everything aside and just work with each other.
Do you want to find love?
It’s not a priority but it would be nice. I’m sick of being single. I want it to happen quite soon because I don’t want to get so used to being single that I don’t want anyone.
It’s been a difficult time for you after you sadly lost your friend Nikki Grahame. How are you?
I miss her so much. I really did try my best for her and she knows that. Now I know that she’s in a much better place. It was just so hard because when she was so ill,...
Imogen, who has daughters Ariana, eight, and Siera, five, with ex-boyfriend Adam Horsley, is enjoying a rare afternoon away from home since pandemic restrictions started easing. And while she’s excited about things returning to normal, she admits she feels anxious after being stuck indoors for the majority of the past year.
The former Big Brother star has been single since splitting up with Adam in 2018 after six years together. She says she enjoyed some casual chats on dating apps during lockdown, but tells us her love life is “nonexistent”.
Here, Imogen, 38, also remembers her close friend Nikki Grahame, who died from anorexia in April, and opens up about her own issues with mental health…
Hi Imogen! How have you found the past year?
Lockdown was fine for me – I actually really enjoyed it. Now that everything is opening up again, I thought I would be absolutely fine, but going to places and having dinner reservations is giving me a bit of anxiety. But it is nice to get everything back to normal a bit more.
How did your girls cope in lockdown?
They were fine. They loved being at home, but the homeschooling was extremely difficult. Especially for my oldest because she just couldn’t be bothered. A lot of the time I was like, “OK, if you don’t want to do it, don’t do it then.” But then, because I was giving her that attitude, she was like, “I better do it!” During the second lockdown, her school started doing lessons online, which was good because then she had to do the work. I think for everyone who has kids, it was stressful.
Did you worry about work?
I actually worked a lot during lockdown. I own five houses now, so they keep me busy and I was also doing a lot of Instagram work. Apart from that, I’m happy just floating around. Of course, if I get work, I’ll take it, but I’m older now, so I’m not literally banging on doors like I was back in the day.
How’s your love life at the moment?
It’s nonexistent! It was more active during lockdown in terms of speaking to guys. But now that everything is opening up again and everyone is out and about, it’s like they can’t be bothered to talk. I’m getting that kind of vibe. I’m not really talking to anyone now. And I don’t have a nanny at the minute, so I’m busy with the girls, but I do go out when the kids go to their dad’s. They go to him every other weekend so that gives me time to go out and do my own stuff.
Are you civil with their dad, Adam?
We’re on good terms. He helps out loads with the kids. As long as he’s a good dad, I don’t care about anything else. And he is. You’ve got to put everything aside and just work with each other.
Do you want to find love?
It’s not a priority but it would be nice. I’m sick of being single. I want it to happen quite soon because I don’t want to get so used to being single that I don’t want anyone.
It’s been a difficult time for you after you sadly lost your friend Nikki Grahame. How are you?
I miss her so much. I really did try my best for her and she knows that. Now I know that she’s in a much better place. It was just so hard because when she was so ill,...
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New UK (Digital) - 1 Issue, June 28, 2021