STACEY SOLOMON TALKS TO OK! ABOUT THOSE WEDDING RUMOURS
STACEY SOLOMON OPENS UP TO OK! ABOUT WEDDING RUMOURS WITH BOYFRIEND JOE SWASH AND THEIR FAMILY CHRISTMAS PLANS
Christmas has come early for Stacey Solomon! The Loose Women star is fizzing with festive spirit as she gathers her family around her for a fun shoot.
Along with her partner Joe Swash, and her sons Zachary, 11, Leighton, seven, and five-monthold Rex, they strike some happy poses for their first ever Christmas card.
Cute as a button Rex, who Stacey welcomed with Joe on May 23, looks snug tucked in his stocking, while his older brothers pretend to make themselves sick as the couple sneak a quick kiss under the mistletoe.
Just days earlier, it was a very different photo that had sparked rumours Stacey and TV presenter Joe – who’ve been dating since 2015 – had secretly tied the knot in the Maldives. It was during their recent break that Stacey posted a picture of the five of them on the idyllic sands, with her eldest two sons looking super smart in their suits.
Blissfully unaware of the commotion the image had created back in the UK, it wasn’t until they’d landed back home that the former X Factor star was able to set the story straight and confirm they hadn’t eloped.
The couple moved in together a year ago, and with Joe already dad to Harry, 12, from a previous relationship, they’re proof that blended families work.
Here, Stacey sits down to tell OK! about feeling bad that she didn’t get married in the Maldives, why Rex is different to her other two sons and her family Christmas plans...
How did Rex cope with being dressed up for the Card Factory shoot?
He didn’t mind at all. The boys loved it as well. Zach is at an age when he’s like: ‘No, this isn’t cool,’ but when it comes to Christmas, he wants to be involved, which is really nice.
Did he enjoy his role?
The boys were hilarious and the baby cracks me up. Usually he’s really smiley but he was jet lagged, so for most of the time he was falling asleep. When the boys were wrapping themselves in tinsel, the baby was obsessed and couldn’t keep his eyes off it.
How easy was the shoot? For years I’ve wanted to do something like this and I don’t know why we haven’t before. I just thought we’d have to go somewhere to get a professional picture done but you can do all this stuff online now in the comfort of your own home!
You’re like the Kardashians of Essex – how does that sound? No, we are not! I love matching clothes and dressing up for any occasion. That’s as far as our similarities go!
Rex always seems so happy. Does he cry much? I know this sounds weird, but he hasn’t cried actual tears yet – he hasn’t properly cried ever. Everyone’s like: ‘It must be because you two are so happy.’ He is who he is. All of the children have been so different and he is the smiliest, most content baby and the others weren’t like that really.
Who is Rex most like?
I don’t think Rex is anything like me or Joe. The only thing that reminds me of Joe is sometimes Rex raises his eyebrows and gets loads of wrinkles on his forehead. I love Joe’s wrinkles, they look manly.
Men look better with some character lines…
Absolutely. Women do as well. I got Botox vouchers for a recent birthday and I tried it. I love having an upside down frown. I’m so expressive, it doesn’t suit me.
What was your reaction when you realised everyone assumed you and Joe had married while on holiday in the Maldives?
I didn’t realise! I’d posted a picture then put my phone down. I didn’t want my kids to see me on my phone the whole time and I didn’t want to miss out on anything. It’s only when I got back home that I started to reply to my messages and I realised everyone thought we’d got married. So I wanted to put the record straight. I felt a bit guilty. I felt bad that we didn’t get married – I don’t know why I felt terrible about it. I felt like I led people to believe we got married when we just went out for dinner! I love dressing up and it was a special dinner as it was the first time Joe had been there. If we were getting married I’d tell people anyway. I wouldn’t do it and let people know afterwards.
Next year is a leap year – will you propose to Joe?
I wouldn’t wait for a leap year if I was going to propose to Joe. If I really wanted to and thought it was the right time, I would, but at the moment we are really concentrating on the kids and making sure they’re all happy. It’s only five months since we had a baby so it’s just not top of the agenda.
You also said you wouldn’t have got married in the dress you were wearing. What would you wear for your wedding? Definitely white, with a really long train, floaty and glittery.
You posted a gorgeous picture of you on the beach with Rex showing your postbaby tummy...
We went to the beach and that’s just what I looked like. I’m not sitting there thinking, Is that okay to post? They are the only pictures I’ve got and I really wanted to show I was away in a beautiful place with my family. It’s not even about being confident, it’s about having an Instagram that’s about me and my life. It can’t be an airbrushed version. I think it’s a conscious effort to have an attitude that makes you feel good about yourself. For me personally, some days I feel great and think my body is great and I am really proud of myself and what I am. Then there are some days when I don’t feel so confident and have to remind myself I’m only feeling that way because of certain ideals and images that I see. Everyone is completely different. I am who I am; that is good enough.
We loved that you flashed a bit of armpit hair in your holiday snaps. What does Joe think of it?
Joe is the most liberal man I have ever met in my life. He grew up with three women so he is the most understanding man. Sometimes you just don’t have time to shave your armpits. I literally packed the night before our holiday and there was no time as I was getting up really early, showering, shaving, getting the kids ready and getting them in the car. No one bats an eyelid at a man with armpit hair. Joe will walk around with it under his arm, so why can’t I?
What will you be doing for Christmas?
I am trying to convince Joe to dress up as Santa for the day. It will be so much fun so we’re working on it. Hopefully everyone will come to us this year. My sister, mum and dad, and Joe’s mum, dad and sisters. I’d love to have everyone around at our house. I love the chaos.
Will you splurge on gifts for Rex’s first Christmas?
I don’t think I will get him anything. I will get him a toy or something but I am yet to meet a baby that knows it’s Christmas. A nice outfit and maybe something practical, like something for his teeth because he’s teething at the moment. He’s not going to appreciate anything – not in a horrible way – but he’s not going to know. He’ll enjoy just tearing the wrapping paper!
What would be your dream gift?
A family day out or experience. I just want to make new memories with the kids and have things to look forward to. If Joe said we’re all going to the farm, I’d get so excited. Gifts where we are all together are the best type of gifts for me.
Is Joe generous at Christmas?
Joe is amazing. He’s really generous but never knows what to do with it! They’re always really lovely gifts but very misguided. For Christmas, we don’t go crazy on each other, it’s about the kids, but I remember one year for my birthday he got me three pairs of white trainers. When one pair would have been enough!
Is Joe romantic?
Yes, but not in a conventional sense, like a candle-lit dinner by the fireplace. He’ll play with my kids all day long, spend loads of time with them, and that’s the most attractive, romantic thing ever.