Megan: “Mike handles me well – he makes me calm”
Despite his Lothario reputation, Megan Mckenna tells Closer she’s found The One in boyfriend “Muggy” Mike Thalassitis and says she won’t let haters skinny shame her
They both have questionable T reputations – while she’s nicknamed “Mental Megs” for her epic temper tantrums, he’s been labelled “Muggy Mike” for his Lothario behaviour.
But Megan Mckenna – who revealed last week she was ready to marry boyfriend Mike Thalassitis – tells Closer she and the Love Island star bring out the best in each other and they’re determined to defy their critics.
She says, “They called him ‘Muggy Mike’ – but I got to know him with a clear head and no judgement. Honestly, he’s the loveliest boy. He hasn’t given me any reason to doubt him – he puts me first and makes me feel secure. And I’ve calmed down a lot – I just don’t get so worked up any more. Mike handles me well – he makes me more calm, which I’ve not had before with a boyfriend.”
The Towie-star-turned-singer, 25, adds that the pair are ready to settle down and start a family in the next few years.
She says, “If Mike proposed tomorrow, I’d say yes! I’m ready to marry him. I can 100 per cent see myself with him forever. I want a family one day and I think Mike and I would make beautiful tanned babies!”
TUMULTUOUS LOVE LIFE
Megan has had a number of roller-coaster relationships with fellow reality stars. While on Ex On The Beach in 2015 she first dated Stephen Bear before moving on with Jordan Davies, whom she was briefly engaged to.
Her tumultuous relationship with Pete Wicks played out on TOWIE and, in 2016, he admitted to sexting over ten other girls. They split a year later.
But now she believes she’s finally found her happy ending with Mike, despite raising eyebrows when they began dating earlier this year. Mike built up a ladies’ man reputation on the show when he made moves on girls already in couples. Viewers have even drawn similarities between Mike and this year’s Lothario Adam Collard. But Megan says Mike is nothing like his reputation and that she’s happier than ever.
“When he first walked on to Love Island last year, I remember thinking, ‘Wow he’s a sort’. And now we’re together! Everything’s so good. I’m at my happiest when we’re just chilling together and having dinner – he’s an amazing cook. He’s a lot more romantic than people think.”
After her debut stint on Ex On The Beach in 2015, Megan entered the Celebrity Big Brother house the following year – earning a reputation for being one of the feistiest stars on TV after her epic meltdowns. She went on to join TOWIE shortly after CBB ended.
NO MORE DRAMA
But Megan admits her outbursts are now few and far between and credits boyfriend Mike for helping her chill out.
“I’m a lot calmer in life now – I’ve got my house, my lovely boyfriend, my solid friendship circle and less drama than before. I feel safe with Mike and, if we do have a stupid argument, I just think, ‘Why are we having this argument? We’re just going to make up in half an hour.’ And then we diffuse the situation and we’re happy.”
As well as viewers being shocked by her outbursts, Megan has also faced nasty comments online about her appearance. She’s been the subject of skinnyshaming, with social media users criticising her petite size 6 physique, and she’s also been trolled about her voluptuous lip fillers.
But Megan – who’s a coeliac [allergic to gluten] – says that while the body-shaming comments can be hurtful, she’s learning not to take notice of the cruel remarks.
The star explains, “Why is it not OK to call someone fat, but it’s OK to call
someone emaciated or anorexic? I know I’m skinny, but insults are still hurtful. Some people say I’m lucky, but they have no idea about the issues I’ve had with coeliac disease and my digestive health. And people comment on my lips, too, but you know what? I really like them and I’m not going to stop getting fillers because someone else doesn’t like them.”
MUSIC SUCCESS
Following her departure from TOWIE last year, Megan has carved out a successful music career for herself. Her first single, High Heeled Shoes, went straight to number one on the itunes chart and she even supported Michael Buble at London’s British Summer Time Festival last week. She also landed her own reality show about breaking into the country music scene in Nashville. Now Megan says that she’d love to emulate former TOWIE star Mark Wright’s success in America – and says the sky’s the limit for her goals. She adds, “Mark Wright has done so well over in America. I’d love to crack the States – but I need to crack here properly first! I want to prove to everyone what I can do. My ultimate dream is to tour, to perform in front of thousands of people and to share with the world the songs I’ve written. Fingers crossed I can do it!” Mouthy by Megan Mckenna (John Blake) is out on hardback on 26 July
‘I’d love to crack the US like Mark Wright’