Whether they’re lighting up TV screens or being papped on the red carpet, most celebrities seem to ooze confidence from every pore.
But when it comes to their bodies, most stars are just as insecure as the rest of us – if not more so. Whether they’re feeling self-conscious about those unwanted lumps and bumps or stressing out about a secret skin condition, some stars are plagued by insecurities and they are often too terrified to talk about it.
Even super-fit celebs can come under fire for the way they look. Last week, Davina McCall and Nicole Kidman were slammed for showing off their “impressive six-packs” and “sculpted biceps” – so it appears no one is safe.
Of course, battling body confidence issues is difficult enough when you’re not in the public eye. But when you’re in the spotlight, the effects on your mental health can be devastating.
TOWIE star Demi Sims, 26, recently opened up to new about her skin condition vitiligo, talking about how it had hit her confidence over the years but she had finally learned to embrace it and love the way she looks.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1667302292/articles/v8b7r8wya1667395733261/3426168174.jpg]
Other stars who have had struggles include Josie Gibson. Despite telling us this week that she now “loves” her curves, the This Morning star was once body-shamed for gaining weight.
TOWIE star Jess Wright was riddled with insecurities after a psoriasis flare-up post-pregnancy. And Made In Chelsea star Ashley James spent years feeling pressure “to be perfect” and was made to feel ashamed of her breasts, while Gogglebox’s Amy Tapper struggled with her weight.
Thankfully, all four have turned a confidence corner and now feel comfortable in their own skin.
Here, we celebrate their newfound body positivity and reveal how they did it…
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1667302292/articles/v8b7r8wya1667395733261/8862841464.jpg]
ASHLEY ‘WE NEED TO SUPPORT MUMS, NOT SHAME THEM’
DJ and presenter Ashley James talks about how beauty is a state of mind
Former Made In Chelsea star Ashley James has opened up about her past struggles with accepting her body, admitting there are times when “she didn’t feel good enough”.
When we spoke to the 35-year-old as part of our body positivity special, she was very open about her “love/hate relationship” with her breasts, why she had to take a stand against using filters and why becoming a mum means she’s more passionate than ever about making women feel good about themselves.
Ashley, who is mum to Alfie, who turns two in January, announced last month that she’s expecting her second child next year. She told us, “Body confidence is especially important to me now because I want my son to know that a woman deserves love and respect regardless of looks. And in a world of social media affecting the confidence of boys and girls, I want our future generation to know they’re perfect as they are.”
Having been an underwear model in the past, Ashley knows full well what it’s like to feel scrutinised. She explains, “When I was younger, especially as a lingerie model, I would feel a lot of pressure. I was so miserable about my body because I felt like it could never be perfect and people would always Photoshop it to look how they wanted it to look.
“Then I realised the irony that even the models wished they looked like the models and it dawned on me how unrealistic the beauty standards were. Nobody felt good enough.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1667302292/articles/v8b7r8wya1667395733261/8663142672.jpg]
“That’s when I took a stand against Photoshop and now I honestly don’t care if people want to judge my body because I think beauty comes from a state of mind.”
One part of her body that particularly bothered Ashley in the past is her breasts and the star, who is in a relationship with Tom Andrews, admits that she’s still learning to accept them.
“They are a part of my body that have been sexualised since I was 14,” she says. “I was really made to feel ashamed of them growing up, and was always told I had to cover up to stop attracting attention.”
Ashley admits the effect of both her pregnancies has been a challenge and breastfeeding Alf proved tricky.
“I won’t lie, having babies and them [her breasts] growing so big, when they are already big, is a real mental challenge. It’s also a pity there’s so much shame associated with breastfeeding. Because my boobs were so big, I’d get lots of abuse for attention-seeking. We should be supporting mums – not sexualising and shaming them!”
Another thing Ashley finds difficult is that so many women are defined by their post-birth bodies. She says, “We boil postnatal women down to weight loss. It’s a shame because there’s so much more to postnatal recovery than that. It puts so much pressure on women during an incredibly vulnerable and life-altering time.”
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1667302292/articles/v8b7r8wya1667395733261/1384886317.jpg]
Talking about her own post-birth body, Ashley mocks the phrase “snapped back”, saying, “It took a year for my bones to even move back – so even if I’d gone on the strictest diet and deprived myself of essential nutrition to keep my baby and me nourished and healthy, I still wouldn’t have snapped back.”
The DJ and presenter went on to open up about her mental health struggles and said her weight was the last thing on her mind. “I had lots of complications after my childbirth and I was also suffering with sleep deprivation and depression. The way my body looked was the last thing on my mind. Lots of women, myself included, lose weight through exhaustion or not looking after themselves and they should be supported, not praised.
“Encouraging people to embrace their bodies and learn to feel body-confident is important to me – I hate that we grow up in a world that tells us we aren’t good enough, that our happiness depends on being the smallest versions of ourselves. It robs us of enjoying life and when you’re stuck in a cycle of diet culture it never makes you happy.”
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1667302292/articles/v8b7r8wya1667395733261/1244867766.jpg]
JESS ‘ I HOPED BY SHARING, PEOPLE COULD TALK AND KNOW THAT THEY’RE NOT ALONE’
Reality star Jess Wright on her newfound confidence and where it came from
Jess Wright is nearly six months into life as a first-time mum and she’s finding strength in places she never expected. The former TOWIE star and entrepreneur, 37, has battled “confidence shattering” psoriasis since her mid-twenties and would always cover up – until recently, when she boldly took to social media to share a snap showing her autoimmune condition to her 1.5 million followers.
Revealing red rashes on her arms, legs and forehead, Jess explained how the condition – where skin cells build up to form flaky, scaly and itchy patches – had flared up since giving birth to little Presley, who she shares with businessman husband William Lee-Kemp.
Speaking exclusively to us about why she made the brave move, Jess said, “I’ve got to the point where my psoriasis is everywhere. I had to address it. I still find it hard to wear short sleeves but I’m starting to embrace it. I know I should. It’s a relatable subject and I hoped by sharing it on socials, people could talk in the comments below and share remedies, and know that they’re not alone.”
Around 2% of people in the UK suffer from psoriasis and while its cause remains unclear, flare-ups can be triggered by stress and hormonal changes.
Jess adds, “It started on my head when I was 23 and has since gone everywhere. Before I was pregnant, it was nowhere near as bad as this, and when I was pregnant it disappeared – it’s since I’ve had the baby.”
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1667302292/articles/v8b7r8wya1667395733261/2886222138.jpg]
In May, Jess gave birth to Presley after discovering she was pregnant days after tying the knot with William last September. Starting a family was all she’d ever wanted and the couple had even frozen embryos as a precaution before conceiving naturally.
But motherhood came as a shock to Jess, who suffered postnatal depression in the first month of Presley’s life.
“I think it’s the stress of having my first baby and not knowing what’s going on,” says Jess about the flare-up. “It’s the lack of sleep and I’m not at my strongest and my immune system is down.”
But having come out the other side, Jess has a newfound confidence.
“I think because I’m happily married I’ve found my ...
But when it comes to their bodies, most stars are just as insecure as the rest of us – if not more so. Whether they’re feeling self-conscious about those unwanted lumps and bumps or stressing out about a secret skin condition, some stars are plagued by insecurities and they are often too terrified to talk about it.
Even super-fit celebs can come under fire for the way they look. Last week, Davina McCall and Nicole Kidman were slammed for showing off their “impressive six-packs” and “sculpted biceps” – so it appears no one is safe.
Of course, battling body confidence issues is difficult enough when you’re not in the public eye. But when you’re in the spotlight, the effects on your mental health can be devastating.
TOWIE star Demi Sims, 26, recently opened up to new about her skin condition vitiligo, talking about how it had hit her confidence over the years but she had finally learned to embrace it and love the way she looks.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1667302292/articles/v8b7r8wya1667395733261/3426168174.jpg]
Other stars who have had struggles include Josie Gibson. Despite telling us this week that she now “loves” her curves, the This Morning star was once body-shamed for gaining weight.
TOWIE star Jess Wright was riddled with insecurities after a psoriasis flare-up post-pregnancy. And Made In Chelsea star Ashley James spent years feeling pressure “to be perfect” and was made to feel ashamed of her breasts, while Gogglebox’s Amy Tapper struggled with her weight.
Thankfully, all four have turned a confidence corner and now feel comfortable in their own skin.
Here, we celebrate their newfound body positivity and reveal how they did it…
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1667302292/articles/v8b7r8wya1667395733261/8862841464.jpg]
ASHLEY ‘WE NEED TO SUPPORT MUMS, NOT SHAME THEM’
DJ and presenter Ashley James talks about how beauty is a state of mind
Former Made In Chelsea star Ashley James has opened up about her past struggles with accepting her body, admitting there are times when “she didn’t feel good enough”.
When we spoke to the 35-year-old as part of our body positivity special, she was very open about her “love/hate relationship” with her breasts, why she had to take a stand against using filters and why becoming a mum means she’s more passionate than ever about making women feel good about themselves.
Ashley, who is mum to Alfie, who turns two in January, announced last month that she’s expecting her second child next year. She told us, “Body confidence is especially important to me now because I want my son to know that a woman deserves love and respect regardless of looks. And in a world of social media affecting the confidence of boys and girls, I want our future generation to know they’re perfect as they are.”
Having been an underwear model in the past, Ashley knows full well what it’s like to feel scrutinised. She explains, “When I was younger, especially as a lingerie model, I would feel a lot of pressure. I was so miserable about my body because I felt like it could never be perfect and people would always Photoshop it to look how they wanted it to look.
“Then I realised the irony that even the models wished they looked like the models and it dawned on me how unrealistic the beauty standards were. Nobody felt good enough.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1667302292/articles/v8b7r8wya1667395733261/8663142672.jpg]
“That’s when I took a stand against Photoshop and now I honestly don’t care if people want to judge my body because I think beauty comes from a state of mind.”
One part of her body that particularly bothered Ashley in the past is her breasts and the star, who is in a relationship with Tom Andrews, admits that she’s still learning to accept them.
“They are a part of my body that have been sexualised since I was 14,” she says. “I was really made to feel ashamed of them growing up, and was always told I had to cover up to stop attracting attention.”
Ashley admits the effect of both her pregnancies has been a challenge and breastfeeding Alf proved tricky.
“I won’t lie, having babies and them [her breasts] growing so big, when they are already big, is a real mental challenge. It’s also a pity there’s so much shame associated with breastfeeding. Because my boobs were so big, I’d get lots of abuse for attention-seeking. We should be supporting mums – not sexualising and shaming them!”
Another thing Ashley finds difficult is that so many women are defined by their post-birth bodies. She says, “We boil postnatal women down to weight loss. It’s a shame because there’s so much more to postnatal recovery than that. It puts so much pressure on women during an incredibly vulnerable and life-altering time.”
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1667302292/articles/v8b7r8wya1667395733261/1384886317.jpg]
Talking about her own post-birth body, Ashley mocks the phrase “snapped back”, saying, “It took a year for my bones to even move back – so even if I’d gone on the strictest diet and deprived myself of essential nutrition to keep my baby and me nourished and healthy, I still wouldn’t have snapped back.”
The DJ and presenter went on to open up about her mental health struggles and said her weight was the last thing on her mind. “I had lots of complications after my childbirth and I was also suffering with sleep deprivation and depression. The way my body looked was the last thing on my mind. Lots of women, myself included, lose weight through exhaustion or not looking after themselves and they should be supported, not praised.
“Encouraging people to embrace their bodies and learn to feel body-confident is important to me – I hate that we grow up in a world that tells us we aren’t good enough, that our happiness depends on being the smallest versions of ourselves. It robs us of enjoying life and when you’re stuck in a cycle of diet culture it never makes you happy.”
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1667302292/articles/v8b7r8wya1667395733261/1244867766.jpg]
JESS ‘ I HOPED BY SHARING, PEOPLE COULD TALK AND KNOW THAT THEY’RE NOT ALONE’
Reality star Jess Wright on her newfound confidence and where it came from
Jess Wright is nearly six months into life as a first-time mum and she’s finding strength in places she never expected. The former TOWIE star and entrepreneur, 37, has battled “confidence shattering” psoriasis since her mid-twenties and would always cover up – until recently, when she boldly took to social media to share a snap showing her autoimmune condition to her 1.5 million followers.
Revealing red rashes on her arms, legs and forehead, Jess explained how the condition – where skin cells build up to form flaky, scaly and itchy patches – had flared up since giving birth to little Presley, who she shares with businessman husband William Lee-Kemp.
Speaking exclusively to us about why she made the brave move, Jess said, “I’ve got to the point where my psoriasis is everywhere. I had to address it. I still find it hard to wear short sleeves but I’m starting to embrace it. I know I should. It’s a relatable subject and I hoped by sharing it on socials, people could talk in the comments below and share remedies, and know that they’re not alone.”
Around 2% of people in the UK suffer from psoriasis and while its cause remains unclear, flare-ups can be triggered by stress and hormonal changes.
Jess adds, “It started on my head when I was 23 and has since gone everywhere. Before I was pregnant, it was nowhere near as bad as this, and when I was pregnant it disappeared – it’s since I’ve had the baby.”
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1667302292/articles/v8b7r8wya1667395733261/2886222138.jpg]
In May, Jess gave birth to Presley after discovering she was pregnant days after tying the knot with William last September. Starting a family was all she’d ever wanted and the couple had even frozen embryos as a precaution before conceiving naturally.
But motherhood came as a shock to Jess, who suffered postnatal depression in the first month of Presley’s life.
“I think it’s the stress of having my first baby and not knowing what’s going on,” says Jess about the flare-up. “It’s the lack of sleep and I’m not at my strongest and my immune system is down.”
But having come out the other side, Jess has a newfound confidence.
“I think because I’m happily married I’ve found my ...
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New UK (Digital) - 1 Issue, November 07, 2022