ESSEX FACTOR
Body confidence, true love, motherhood and feeling lucky. Here’s life according to unstoppable Loose Women panellist Stacey Solomon
STACEY Solomon shot to fame as a singer on The X Factor, triumphed in the jungle on I’m a Celebrity… and her forthright views are now a fixture of Loose Women.
She’s finally found love with actor Joe Swash, with whom she shares a regular job presenting I’m A Celebrity: Extra Camp.
But the most important things in her life right now are her sons Zachary, nine, and Leighton, five.
They’re one of the reasons Stacey has no time to worry about looking perfect for the cameras every time she steps out of the house.
And her independent spirit means she is in no hurry to get married to Joe –
no matter how in love they are. She said: “We’re taking things really slowly, because we’ve both got children who come first.
“We’re not living together at the moment but we’re going to gradually integrate our lives – when the kids are ready. I’m still a hopeless romantic and want us to get married but we’re not ready for that yet.”
While he is the man of her dreams, she is most proud of being an independent and strong woman.
“Apart from my brilliant kids, my family and my partner, it’s about being independent,” she said. “My dad made me and my siblings get weekend jobs as soon as we were old enough, so we learnt the value of working and managing money.”
Stacey finished third in The X Factor in 2009 behind Olly Murs and winner Joe McElderry.
But her career really took off the following year when she was crowned the winner of series 10 of I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!
Since then, she’s become a popular face on panel and reality shows, with a regular gig presenting ITV2 spin-off show, I’m A Celebrity: Extra Camp, alongside former EastEnders star Joe.
Whe it comes to keeping in shape, the 28-year-old said: “I mainly rely on running around after my two boys.
“I play games with them to burn off calories. I’ll do an occasional exercise class but luckily, I don’t gain weight easily.
“I eat healthily apart from indulging in the odd packet of crisps, nuts and sandwiches.
“I’m happy pretty much every day and as I get older, I just get happier.”
Stacey is also an outspoken commentator on body issues.
She said: “I don’t think it’s right for people to have a false image of what I look like based on photos that might have been taken after make-up sessions, or those that may have been enhanced.
“Too many celebrity pictures make women look ‘perfect’.
“It’s so damaging to other women’s self-esteem.
“These days, I’m really comfortable with the way I look and I think there are more important things to worry about than than my figure. “My wobbly bits, muffin top, saggy boobs and stretch marks from pregnancies are part of me and I’m proud of them.” As well as being happier in herself, she revealed that her romance with Joe means the world. She said: “It’s transformed my life. “When we met in 2015, I’d given up on men, I thought I was done and I was quite happy to be alone with my sons.
“I think that’s probably the reason I found Joe – because I was really content and I wasn’t looking for someone to complete me.
“I’m really happy with him – at the moment I do think he is ‘Mr Right’.
“He makes me feel secure, loves me unconditionally and sticks up for me even if I’m in the wrong.
“He’s even tolerant about my horrible habit of picking my nose. That sort of love makes you feel a bit invincible.”
Stacey can’t help being happy with her lot – as she’s seen the other more difficult – side of life as a single mum.
She said: “I’ve worked in a fish and chip shop and as a saleswoman for double glazing.
“I never imagined being on X Factor or that I’d continue to have a career and be on Loose Women. “Sitting with intelligent, funny women and talking about things I care about is literally my dream job. I’ve been so lucky.”