Vogue Williams
It’s a long way from Fade Street, but Vogue Williams has just landed her first presenting role at the BBC, tackling an issue that was once the preserve of the rich and famous but is now mainstream – plastic surgery. It marks a major milestone for the ambitious Dubliner, who has harboured dreams of television stardom since she was a young girl. Growing up in her native Howth, Vogue boasted both good looks and a sunny personality, and her hard work and drive led to her quickly earning a reputation as one of Ireland’s leading models.
While she was a regular on the photocall scene, Vogue always yearned to see her name and face on screen, and a part in the RTÉ reality series Fade Street earned the budding star her first television credit.
While the frothy Fade Street was much derided by critics, it was a hit with viewers and proved to be the launchpad for Vogue’s television career.
Here at home, she has presented Vogue Williams Investigates and appeared on travel series Getaways. She joined her husband Spencer, with whom she has a young son, Theodore, for E4 reality series, Spencer, Vogue And Baby Too and Spencer, Vogue And Wedding Two.
Now she’s taking on the UK.
Last month she was unveiled as copresenter of new BBC Three show Plastic Surgery Undressed.
She’s joined by BBC journalist Mobeen Azhar in a perfect match for Vogue as the series marries her presenting skills and her beauty background.
The series features applicants pitching their reasons for wanting plastic surgery to a panel before it is decided if they are worthy of the procedure.
In the event that 75% of the panel backs their case, the applicant gets the procedure free of charge.
But Vogue says Plastic Surgery Undressed will not offer those taking part the chance to have complimentary work done.
She explains: ‘Our show is more about educating people and giving them all the information they need so they can make an informed decision on what could be a life-changing thing.
‘We want to show people the cold, hard truth of what actually happens during surgery – there are some horror stories on there. People are going to have surgery but hopefully this will make them think twice.’
During the filming of the show, Vogue watched live surgery and was left ‘shocked’ by the intensity of the procedures.
‘I thought I knew what every type of surgery entailed but I definitely did not,’ she says.
‘I forget that it’s surgery! You just think, “Oh they’re going in to get a nice nose,” but you forget everything that goes on. Some of them were quite difficult to watch!
‘That’s the most shocking part. I was taken aback by a lot of things and not everything was something my stomach was delighted to watch.’
While Vogue has so far resisted the urge to go under the knife or the needle ahead of her UK presenting debut, she did have some skin resurfacing facial treatments to make sure she was in tip-top shape for the cameras.
She was a client at Dublin’s Facial Rejuve Clinic where she was treated at the hands of cosmetic facial aestheti
cian Dr Altona Myers for a Fire and Ice facial, more commonly known as the red-carpet facial.
This non-invasive treatment is a new medical facial designed to ‘smooth and plump your skin into perfect condition’ for those who resist injectables.
‘They call it the red-carpet facial as it’s really popular with celebrities before big events,’ says Dr Myers.
‘It’s a results focused resurfacing peel that leaves skin brighter and smoother without any downtime.
‘The intensive medical facial is clinically formulated with the purest pharmaceutical grade ingredients and designed to rapidly and safely resurface the skin, reduce fine lines, address problematic skin and encourage cellular renewal.’
Indeed, Vogue looks glowing onscreen, no mean feat for the mother of a young tot, with a hectic workload.
But while Vogue says she loves an in-depth facial she has drawn the line at surgery.
‘I don’t think I could do it, it’s really quite scary. I love a really good indepth facial.’
The body-conscious presenter, who has a rigorous workout schedule, faced a barrage of criticism for training during her pregnancy.
She was also recently trolled over her body weight and, in one instance, an online commentator took aim at her breast size.
She recently revealed that such was the intensity of comments about her looks, especially in her younger years, that she did consider going under the knife due to the pressure to ‘slim down’ and make changes to her appearance.
‘I used to consider changing a lot of different things in my appearance,’ she admits.
‘I’ve been that person. So many people say things about the way I look. I let it slide now but in the past it really got me down and I wanted to make changes. ‘I have tried to slim down when I’ve read negative comments about myself – but now I’m happy in the person I am.
‘It only changed when I got to a point in my life where I felt comfortable in myself, which has only been over the last couple of years – maybe because of my age.’
It is not just Vogue’s age that has made her comfortable in her own skin.
Since meeting Spencer Matthews, the former party pair have settled down into a quiet and undeniably happy life as husband and wife and parents to little Theodore.
Vogue and Made In Chelsea wide boy Spencer met while competing in Channel 4 celebrity ski competition The Jump in early 2017.
They got engaged in February 2018 and married in an intimate ceremony at Spencer’s family’s estate, Glen Affric, in the Scottish Highlands in June that year.
While some marriages based on reality TV meetings have as short a life span as their shows, this appears to be truly a match made in heaven.
The couple are currently into the second season of their E4 reality show and their devotion to each other and their son shines through.
They complement and drive each other, and with banter abounding they seem to have found the right formula for a modern-day happy ever after.
‘I tried to slim down when I read negative comments’