Kelly Brook
Kelly Brook talks to new about engagement rumours, being ‘Size Sexy’ and how she really feels about marriage and children
Kelly Brook disarms us with her warmth and charm when she arrives for our interview at London’s Haymarket Hotel. The Heart Radio DJ, who celebrated her 40th birthday in Miami in November, is very apologetic about being held up in traffic, making her 30 minutes late.
Kelly, who went up to a size 16 in 2018, has teamed up with Slimfast to promote its Size Sexy campaign and she says women shouldn’t be ashamed if they want to change the way they look.
“I think it’s considered very anti-feminist,” she admits. “Women don’t want to admit they’re on diets, yet they want to lose weight. It’s not fashionable to be on a diet and with this campaign we’re saying it’s OK to admit you’re not the best you’ve ever been.”
Kelly, who’s now a size 10-12 after losing 2st, seems to have found her happy place both with her body and romantically, as she’s loved up with Jeremy Parisi, her boyfriend of five years.
Here she talks about battling with her weight and takes a thinly veiled jab at her ex, Try Star singer Thom Evans…
Hi Kelly! First up, what’s the truth about those engagement rumours?
We’re not engaged. I wear a ring on my engagement finger, so people are probably confused. It doesn’t fit on any other finger!
Would you like to get married?
Look, I’m always up for a diamond – so if anyone wants to get me a diamond…
Has Jeremy dropped any hints about proposing?
[Shakes head] He’s a real secret squirrel.
I’d definitely be the last to know if he was thinking of doing anything like that.
Do you worry about leaving it too late to have children?
Not really, because we can do things now that can prolong things if you really want that. But I’m all up for nature taking its course. I’m not putting pressure on myself. It’s not going to make me happy if I have a kid or if I have a wedding day. It might distract you for a minute but once you’ve done it, then what? I don’t want a Band-aid baby, you know. I think that’s what a lot of people do. Be a bit more zen inside, that’s what you need. I’ve got a younger partner, so there’s no rush for him, either.
Are you and Jeremy a night in or night out kind of couple?
Oh, night in! Netflix – we love it. We’re watching The Morning Show at the moment. We’re obsessed. It’s so relatable because it’s a morning show and I sometimes cover for Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston on Heart. Reese Witherspoon reminds me of myself because I’d never done radio before
Heart, so when I started I’d come out with stuff and my co-hosts would look at me and go, “I can’t believe she just said that!”
Have you had to tone it down?
No, they don’t stifle you like that. It’s definitely a time for more women being on the radio and being feisty and real. We’ve had to have a dump button put in. Since Amanda and I joined there’s a delay. They never had that before. It’s in case one of us swears!
Naughty Kelly! Do you ever miss your modelling days?
Well, I have the odd shoot every now and again and I get to play on set. But I don’t miss being on a plane every other week.
Is it nice to be the dream woman of an entire generation of men?
I don’t think that’s happened since 2005, when I was FHM’S
sexiest woman. I remind my boyfriend and he’s like, “That was 2005!” That time has long gone.
The X Factor: Celebrity gave a host of stars a new string to their bow. Would you ever do it?
No, I wouldn’t want to embarrass myself. I can’t sing! Not that it stopped some people on that show… I wouldn’t want a little five minutes of whatever that is. I’ll focus on my own career. The only one who’s going to come out good is Megan Mckenna. The others you were like, “What are you doing?” My ex Thom was on it. The last I heard he was going off to LA to be an actor and then I turn on my telly and he’s on The X Factor.
What happened there?! [Laughs]
Ouch! You’ve lost 2st with Slimfast.
Why is its new campaign Size Sexy important to you?
I’ve been on the Slimfast plan for a while now and I did get to my Size Sexy, the size where I feel most confident and comfortable. When I first signed up, in my mind I felt like I had to achieve this really unrealistic shape. But when I realised I’d got to the size I was happy with and that it was maintainable,
I felt so relieved and happy. I still fit into
‘I’D BE THE LAST TO KNOW IF JEREMY WAS PLANNING TO PROPOSE’
my old jeans. It’s not about trying to be the skinniest person in the world, it’s about finding your Size Sexy.
Do you follow the Slimfast plan religiously?
Yeah, everything in moderation. I was on the Vitality Plan last year to get to my goal and I like to run and exercise. Now it’s about maintaining my weight. I have moments when I’ll eat a bit more in the day or miss a shake, but I’m pretty much on it all the time. You don’t change a team that wins! I’d be happy even if I was a bit smaller or a bit bigger, but a 10-12 is my happy size. I feel better in my clothes.
Does Jeremy love your body?
Yeah, he loves curvy women. He’s Italian and they’re the best at making women feel good about themselves, so I’m very lucky.
Gemma mccartney
Kelly lost 2st on the Slimfast plan.to take part in the Slimfast Challenge this month, visit slimfast.co.uk or search Slimfastuk #Icanjan on Twitter