Actress and radio presenter Gemma Atkinson left readers stunned as she graced the cover of Women's Health UK, but she admitted that her journey to accepting her body was long
Gemma Atkinson has stripped down to unveil her flawless figure in a set of new snaps.
Former Hollyoaks actress Gemma, who is currently engaged to Strictly Come Dancing legend Gorka Márquez, recently celebrated her 40th birthday in November. It came as she reflected on her life and career, thanking Strictly for giving her everything she has in her life today.
Now, the Hits Radio DJ has stunned readers as she graced the cover of Women's Health UK with a hot red swimsuit. The asymmetrical outfit showed off the soap star's midriff as there was a cutout right around her waist as her luscious blonde locks were plaited into a thick French braid.
In another snap, blonde bombshell Gemma wowed as she sported a bright red two-piece sports outfit that perfectly hugged her body, together with a pair of vibrant red shoes. She accessorised the look with splashes of black to make her red look pop, sporting a black leather crop jacket, black and white socks and a black baseball cap.
But speaking with Women's Health UK, the media personality admitted that her journey to self-love and self-acceptance with her body was particularly long. It came after she was cruelly slammed by trolls who shamed her for her body shortly after giving birth as she tried to get back to her fitness regime.
Looking back at their hateful comments, she said: "A few people messaged and said, 'I thought you’d be in shape quicker; you’re so into your training; I’m surprised it’s taken you 10 months.' My mum used to say – well, she still says to me – if someone doesn’t know you personally, why would you take what they say personally?
"Even if someone says something lovely," she added. "It’s so nice, but you can’t take it on board because you walk around with a swollen head."
Gemma had a C-section to give birth to her latest child together with Spanish Strictly hunk Gorka in July of last year. Welcoming baby Thiago into the world, the operation left Gemma stunned as she revealed she had to take time to heal following the surgery.
"I kept telling myself, ‘You’ve been sliced open – through, like, seven layers [of tissue], yeah?'" she explained. "'Let that heal before you do anything.'
"So I focused a lot on nutrition; and then after about 13 or 14 weeks, I started doing light exercise again," Gemma added. "I gradually built myself back up to where I am now... I feel the best I’ve felt. So, it’s taken more than a year, but I just did it in my own time, at my own pace – and now I feel great."
She also opened up in the interview about how she believed she would become a "Stepford wife" when she became a mother, but soon received a wake-up call after she was "thrust into motherhood". But despite the jolted introduction to being a mum, she is taking the challenges in her stride and being a doting mum to son Thiago and daughter Mia.
The full interview is available now in the Jan/Feb issue of Women’s Health UK or on the WH website
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