Ferne: “I block out negative comments”
New mum Ferne Mccann on how she’s learning to shut out the haters after receiving a backlash over her jailbird ex
As far as the first few months A of motherhood go, Ferne Mccann hasn’t had it easy. Just weeks after she gave birth to her daughter Sunday in November, her ex-boyfriend, Arthur Collins – who is the baby’s father – was found guilty of an acid attack that injured 14 people.
Then, just as she was trying to make a fresh start earlier this month, she was forced to deny she’d been visiting him in prison – after she previously claimed she’d cut all contact.
Despite her denials, Ferne, 27, still faced a vicious backlash on social media, with one troll posting, “She’s a liar who supported him behind the scenes whilst playing the single mum sympathy card,” while another wrote, “How can she support him? Hope all her TV and promotion work dries up.”
THICK-SKINNED
But as Closer catches up with the former TOWIE star at the launch of her new Poundland beauty line, she reveals she’s forced herself to ignore the negativity.
She says, “Every bad comment… I block it out and it gets lost, as you get ten amazing ones to every negative one. You grow a thick skin. Recently, I’ve had so much support and positive comments from the public on social media. People have been really kind and it’s been very humbling for me to read.”
For the past year, Ferne’s rarely been out of the headlines. Her world was turned upside down last April when, the week after revealing her new relationship with Collins, the scaffolder was arrested for instigating an acid attack in a London nightclub, for which he was later sentenced to 20 years in jail. Days later, Ferne released a statement saying she was pregnant and planned to raise the baby alone.
But escaping the shadow of her former relationship has been hard. Earlier this month, she sparked further fury for liking an Instagram post, which called for Collins’ release. Then two weeks ago, as Collins appeared in court again for using a smuggled mobile phone in his cell – for which he had a further eight months added to his sentence – his barrister claimed Ferne “occasionally visits him” – something Ferne strongly denied. His barrister Rebecca Randall later clarified, “Unfortunately, my comments were misreported yesterday. I said that his daughter has visited him with HIS mother and sister. I didn’t say ‘its’ mother.”
REFRESHED IMAGE
Defiant Ferne proved how determined she was to move forward last week, when she was pictured at the National Television Awards unveiling a stunning new look with blonde hair and a svelte figure. The star drew controversy after posting a pic of herself apparently downing a shot with WAG pal Rebekah Vardy before posting another snap of her breastfeeding Sunday.
However, she insisted “the shot” was just a small glass of prosecco.
She says, “The NTAS was my first night out since having Sunday. I was really nervous beforehand and it was such a big deal to me. I just wanted to glam up and feel good. I even had a spray tan, which is unlike me. But it was a really good night – though Sunday was on my mind all the time.
“My clubbing days are over – I’m over it all now. My favourite thing is dressing up and going for a nice meal with the girls, but nights in with Sunday are the best. Getting older and becoming a mum means it’s not all about going out any more.”
RESPECTING HER BODY
Despite giving birth just three months ago, the I’m A Celeb! star, who has fluctuated between a size 12 and an 8, is now a slim size 10. She attributes her figure to healthy eating – although she’s keeping up the calories while breastfeeding – and getting back in the gym.
She says, “Being pregnant gave me a whole new respect for my body, so it’s important to keep it healthy. I eat well – I love my salads, fruit and veg – but I love my treats, too. I love carbs! Plus, you need your calories while you’re breastfeeding.
“I’m back in the gym now that Sunday can take a bottle, so I’ll leave her with my mum while I go there and have sessions with my personal trainer a few times a week. I’m glad to be back in the gym – it’s so good, not only for your physical state, but for your mind as well.”
Focusing on her wellbeing is a priority for Ferne, although she admits she’s still figuring out how to achieve that while caring for a newborn. She says, “My mum helps me out a lot. It’s hard – my getting-ready time has now halved! The other day I didn’t even have time to shower. I was so rushed off my feet with Sunday, and getting out the door is challenging sometimes. But it’s so important to have some ‘me time’.”
● Ferne’s beauty range for Poundland is out in February