Gemma Collins looked absolutely sensational as she struck a pose in a pink cut-out swimsuit for an empowering Instagram post on Friday.
The 46-year-old TOWIE star, who has lost 3.5st thanks to weight loss jabs, reminded fans that ‘confidence is not a dress size,’ encouraging everyone to embrace swimwear boldly this summer.
She captioned her post: ‘Wear the swimsuit darlings … Your body is not here to apologise. It’s here to live, to swim, to laugh, to glow in the sunshine and take up every inch of joy it deserves. Wear the swimsuit. Take the photo. Walk the beach. Dive in anyway. Confidence is not a dress size, it’s an energy. And the most beautiful thing anyone can wear is self love with zero permission NEEDED.’
Earlier the same day, Gemma discovered a parking ticket on her £100K Land Rover after lunching with friends in Woodford, Essex — a minor mishap amid a week full of headlines.
The reality TV favourite also faced backlash for her appearance in a video with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, in which they discussed education reforms and care for SEND children.
Despite the criticism, Gemma defended her involvement, insisting she was ‘honoured’ to participate and highlighting her personal connection to SEND issues. The clip, inspired by The Devil Wears Prada style, showed Gemma arriving at the Department for Education, asking staff: ‘Right. What are we doing to help the children?’ before entering the minister’s office.
Although some parents expressed confusion over her suitability for the campaign, Gemma explained she has personal experience with SEND issues, adding cryptically: ‘all will become clear.’
In Instagram videos, she reassured fans: ‘I just want to come on and say stay tuned because I do have experience with SEND, and you know I don’t really want at this stage to go into it that much, but you know, I do understand a little bit more than people think. Just trying to spread positivity and yeah it’s all going to become clear very soon.’
She added: ‘At the end of the day I’m getting attention, I wasn’t paid, I’m creating a lot of noise around the subject so please bear in mind that it’s what I’m there to do for everyone and get people talking.’
Collins also visited Focus 1st Academy, a specialist independent school, where she spoke with staff and students about SEN matters. Headteacher Marina Savva told the Daily Mail: ‘Gemma Collins was one of the most uplifting inspirational speakers that we’ve ever had. She lifted the students up, she gave them hope, she gave them something to aspire to. She knew them.’
Savva added that Gemma wished she could have attended a school like theirs, as she had her own struggles growing up, including difficulties with concentration, social skills, and making friends. ‘She started to become a bit of a non-attender,’ the headteacher explained.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/
