I am A Movie star winner Giovanna Fletcher says she hated her physique earlier than lengthy journey to self-confidence

When Giovanna Fletcher was topped Queen of the Citadel final month, following three weeks dwelling off the notoriously meagre I’m A Movie star! rations (700 energy a day, plus the odd bull’s penis), her good buddy Matt Willis recommended she must purchase a complete new wardrobe.

Giovanna’s response was to chortle out loud. As a result of, similar to most ladies with a lifetime of yo-yoing behind them, she was greater than lined clothes-wise for a change in weight.

Giovanna Fletcher’s relationship along with her physique hasn’t at all times been a wholesome oneCredit score: Mark Hayman

“I’m a lady who has about six completely different sizes in her wardrobe, so I’m OK!” she says.

“I’m going up and down in weight, relying on what time of the month it’s or what is going on in my life. Each e-book I write, I placed on half a stone. It comes off after I turn into extra lively once more.”

Anyway, she jokes, the sheer variety of truffles and treats despatched to the Fletcher residence celebrating her victory will quickly rectify that state of affairs.

However viewers who have been impressed by her positivity, resilience and calm within the fortress could also be shocked to be taught that Giovanna’s relationship along with her physique hasn’t at all times been such a wholesome one.

Giovanna spent a lot of her teenagers and 20s actively ‘loathing’ her physiqueCredit score: Mark Hayman

She spent a lot of her teenagers and 20s actively “loathing” it and she will be able to observe these emotions of contempt all the best way again to her early childhood.

“I bear in mind being on Frinton seashore after I was about 9 and seeing stretch marks on my thighs. I used to be at all times the tubbier one.

“In comparison with my brother and sister who have been like sticks, I used to be a lot curvier.

“So from a younger age I used to be conscious that I used to be a bit chubby and issues folks didn’t imply as damaging grew to become simply that.

Giovanna was topped Queen of the Citadel on the final sequence of I am A CelebCredit score: Shutterstock

“I take into consideration the ladies in my life and the way they considered their our bodies – Mr Motivator was an enormous factor in our home in addition to the fixed diets, so I discovered that girls wanted to look a sure manner and I by no means felt that I did.”

As she moved into her teenagers, Giovanna grew to become more and more acutely aware of how she regarded and obsessed over how she may change her form.

“I had a dysfunctional relationship with meals – actually how I considered my physique and undoubtedly how I handled it when it comes to meals was dysfunctional.

“I believe as a youngster I felt much less worthy as a result of I didn’t look a sure manner and that undoubtedly carried via with countless weight-reduction plan, at all times making an attempt to limit my consumption and going to the health club.

‘PUNISHING MY BODY’

“I look again at pictures now and suppose: ‘What have been you apprehensive about?’ However on the time it was about punishing my physique, being skinny and making myself smaller as a result of then I’d be extra acceptable.”

When Giovanna, now 35, suffered a miscarriage at six weeks along with her first being pregnant in 2012, it fed into the negativity she already felt about her physique.

However turning into pregnant with eldest youngster Buzz the next 12 months and giving delivery to him in March 2014 started the restore work.

She continued to heal with every child – Buddy, now 4, got here alongside in 2016 and Max, now two, in 2018.

“The miscarriage shook me in some ways and left me with much more resentment in the direction of my physique. There was a lot anger, I simply felt it had failed me.

“However after I was pregnant with Buzz, I felt so womanly, I cherished my curves and what my physique was doing.

“It was the primary time I felt like I may have a good time my physique as a result of it was doing a tremendous factor. The feminine kind is unimaginable.”

Maybe the largest shift got here when Giovanna agreed to participate within the Vitality London 10,000 final 12 months – a 10K run via town carrying solely her underwear.

Giovanna grew to become more and more acutely aware of how she regarded whereas in her teenagersCredit score: Mark Hayman

Whilst she accepted the problem, she may barely consider it and husband Tom Fletcher, 35, was floored when she instructed him her plans.

“I used to be like: ‘F**ok it, I’ll do it.’ Tom was a bit: ‘Actually…? In your underwear? By way of London?’ And it was like: ‘Yeah! I’m celebrating my physique!’

“I took tops with me on the day ‘simply in case’ however after I obtained there I believed: ‘Sod it! Let’s rip the band-aid off.’

“So I whipped all of my garments off and chucked glitter throughout myself and I laughed and whooped the entire manner round that 10K.”

Giovanna says she had a ‘dysfunctional relationship with meals’Credit score: Mark Hayman

Afterwards she posted a thank-you notice to her physique on Instagram (“From the best way you wobble and dimple to the best way you fill my coronary heart with love – thanks!”) after which one in every of apology to it in her newest e-book Letters On Motherhood.

“This physique… I hated it for therefore lengthy however it’s given me three children and fed them – I’m in awe of it. I believe our our bodies are immense and as ladies we have to have a good time that.

“And operating, which I at all times stated I couldn’t do, has a tremendous impact on my thoughts.

“So the change for me was realising what it does for my psychological well being and I by no means take a look at train now on the subject of what it’s going to do weight-wise.”

Giovanna took half within the Vitality London 10,000 final 12 months – a 10K run via town carrying solely her underwearCredit score: Getty Photographs

It’s speaking this brazenly and with such ease that has made Giovanna a well-liked and influential voice for ladies and motherhood over the previous few years.

She’s about to begin recording her seventh sequence of her massively profitable Joyful Mum, Joyful Child podcast, which at the moment has over 12 million downloads and earlier this 12 months featured Kate Middleton as a visitor.

The e-book of the identical identify that preceded it grew to become a No.1 bestseller and Giovanna has amassed a neighborhood of 1.9 million (primarily feminine) Insta followers who love her honesty, relatability and non-judgemental tone.

Later this month, she’s going to kind a part of our judging panel for the Fabulous Mum of the 12 months awards.

‘GENDER STEREOTYPES’

Nonetheless, with a lot of her profession, life and identification wrapped up in being a mum, she relished the chance I’m A Celebrity! gave her simply to be Gi once more.

“In some ways it felt like a break, not simply from motherhood however from life and being consistently accessible and having folks ask stuff of you.

“There are some mornings the place I can’t even take a look at Tom as a result of I don’t need him to ask anything of me!

“Buzz is sort of seven so I’ve had seven years of regularly being wanted, which is superb and a blessing, however it’s demanding, and there was one thing so fantastic about having all the things stripped away.”

Tom manned the fort admirably again residence and Giovanna is fast to reward him for coping so nicely, though grimaces ever so barely each time he’s described as a “hands-on dad”.

Tellingly, against this, Mo Farah’s spouse Tania wasn’t held up as a beacon of marvel (or, certainly, a “hands-on mum”) for taking care of their three younger kids at residence whereas he was within the fortress.

“It’s exhausting as a result of I do know Tom in all probability does greater than most so I don’t need to discredit him by saying he shouldn’t be known as a ‘hands-on dad’, however on the similar time I really feel that must be seen because the norm.

“We strive to not have gender stereotypes in the home, however issues do sway in sure instructions.

Giovanna and Tom have three sons – Buzz, Buddy and MaxCredit score: Instagram

“I’m undoubtedly on high of all the admin stuff and the cleansing and I generally really feel like I’m on the kitchen sink whereas he’s having enjoyable with the boys.

“What has been good is realising that I can chill out a bit, I don’t need to be so ‘on it’ on a regular basis.”

Giovanna and Tom met as 13 12 months olds and have been boyfriend and girlfriend by the top of their first day on the Sylvia Younger Theatre College.

They continued an on-off relationship all through their teenagers, earlier than breaking apart at 16 and going their separate methods.

Giovanna and Tom met after they have been simply 13 years previous

Even then and regardless of relationship different folks, there was at all times one thing that saved them linked to one another.

“I felt it from day one. There was simply one thing about him, one thing that saved drawing us in. I had a boyfriend for the 14 months we weren’t collectively however Tom was at all times there. We by no means left one another alone, actually.”

This was across the time McFly have been taking off and Tom would ship Giovanna songs he’d written. She remembers enjoying them to her then-boyfriend as he raised a suspicious eyebrow.

“He was a bit like: ‘Er, that is attention-grabbing.’ However in my head it was harmless.

Giovanna is reluctant to name Tom a ‘hands-on dad’Credit score: mrsgifletcher/Instagram

“Once I met the McFly boys for the primary time Dougie [Poynter] stated: ‘He actually talks about you continuous’ and I bear in mind being in Namibia [where she spent a month doing charity work] and occupied with Tom greater than
I did my boyfriend. However even then I put it all the way down to the truth that he was my past love.”

That was till one night whereas en path to her boyfriend’s place, Giovanna had what she describes as “an epiphany”.

She broke up with him that very same evening, obtained again with Tom shortly afterwards and so they have been collectively ever since, all through McFly’s chart-topping years and Giovanna’s profession as a bestselling writer – she at the moment has 11 books below her belt, two of which have been co-written with Tom.

“It’s been superb seeing one another via completely different factors of our careers.

‘NOT THAT ROCK AND ROLL’

“I bear in mind when McFly had their first efficiency within the UK, strolling down Carnaby Road with them afterwards and there was this large scream from a bunch of ladies.

“I believe I realised that was it – the beginning – and this was going to be how issues have been going to play out for a short time.”

Was she ever apprehensive about groupies and the lengthy spells aside whereas the band have been on tour?

“Properly, we’ve all seen the movies and the women and we all know that occurs, however you sort of need to go: ‘I’m the one he’s coming residence to.’ And if he’d wished to do this, then our relationship wasn’t what I believed it was anyway.

“It splinters a relationship if the belief isn’t there, however I really feel like we’ve been actually good in that manner.”

The actual fact the boys have been by no means large party-goers was additionally key to making sure they stayed scandal-free. Giovanna says they at all times most popular the native pub to a West Finish membership.

“We’re undoubtedly not that rock and roll. As a band, they have been by no means those to be out in golf equipment on a regular basis. We’d do it once in a while, however it was by no means our factor.

“We have been by no means the cool children and we’re pleased with that as a result of being cool is overrated!

Giovanna is a bestselling writer with 11 books below her beltCredit score: Giovanna Fletcher/Instagram

“We at all times appreciated being in somebody’s home or going to the pub and coming again to our place, placing on some music and consuming wine and dancing within the kitchen.

“Who needs to dwell your life for different folks in order that they’ll suppose you’re super-cool? We’ve been very blissful being uncool and doing what works for us.

“It wasn’t about being seen pouting in golf equipment, it was about us simply fooling around collectively.”

Life hasn’t at all times been plain-sailing although. Tom, who can also be a bestselling kids’s writer because of The Christmasaurus and the Dinosaur That Pooped sequence, has been open about his struggles with psychological well being and Giovanna supported him via some darkish occasions.

Kate Middleton appeared on Giovanna’s Joyful Mum, Joyful Child podcast earlier this 12 monthsCredit score: PA:Press Affiliation

Fame so younger was tough and he was identified with bipolar dysfunction in 2010.

“It was actually robust,” says Giovanna.

“Now I really feel like he’s actually good, however there was a time the place I’d discover the cycles of it. Whether or not it was recording or touring, there was undoubtedly a connection to what he was doing band-wise.

“All you are able to do as a associate is be there and hear and attempt to be as supportive as attainable; you don’t need to add additional strain.

BEST OF FRIENDS

“However because the children have come alongside he’s not had any dips. He got here off his remedy when Buzz was about one.”

Twenty-two years since they first met and after eight years of marriage, they continue to be the very best of mates.

Nobody could make her chortle like Tom even when “ardour” has to take a backseat nowadays.

“Folks say that concerning the ardour and it’s like: ‘Give off, I’ve had three children!’ Finest mates and luxury is the place I’m at and we’re each actually pleased with that.

“We will get side-tracked generally by the issues we’re instructed we should always and shouldn’t really feel and I believe when you can come collectively on the finish of the day and say: ‘Sorry for being a little bit of a twerp earlier,’ and chat and chortle then that’s a very powerful factor.”

Do they nonetheless fancy one another? “Yeah!” she says instantly. “It’s simply unimaginable seeing Tom doing the issues he loves and being so proficient.

“I love him differently to after I was 16. I believe the attraction deepens, it’s much less flimsy. It’s stable.”

She factors out that child quantity three Max was a contented shock. “So we undoubtedly nonetheless fancy one another!”

Giovanna admits she didn’t anticipate her profession to take the twists and turns it has and says she has “no thought what’s subsequent.”

No matter it’s, it guarantees to be profitable. She did I’m A Movie star! purely for the love of the present, however she’s the brand new darling of ITV and has job affords popping out of her ears.

There are stories speculating she may earn £4million within the subsequent few years.

Nonetheless, she insists she’s not occupied with any of that for now and there’s at all times the chaos of on a regular basis residence life to deliver her again all the way down to earth.

Giovanna says she and Tom ‘undoubtedly’ nonetheless fancy one anotherCredit score: Getty Photographs – Getty

“As quickly as I arrived again it was like one thing out of a film, all of them simply wished to be on me, overlaying me with kisses and cuddles,” she says.

“However inside an hour, there’s a tantrum about one thing mundane and Tom, having finished it for 5 weeks with out me was like: ‘This one’s yours.’

“So it was a case of straight within the deep finish with soiled nappies and tantrums! It was like I’d by no means been away.”

• Giovanna is internet hosting The Toddler Membership At Dwelling on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer from Monday January 11

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