Despite British movie legends including Dame Judi Dench and Guy Ritchie in attendance – alongside royalty with Sophie Wessex – Gemma Collins still managed to be the centre of attention at the Chelsea Flower Show last week when she made a very grand entrance.
Wearing a pink ballgown complete with billowing yellow cape, all eyes were on her as she shrieked, “The GC’s here, everyone!” while quaffing a chilled glass of champagne.
And when Closer settled down with her later for a chat, Gemma, 40, cackled, “You know how I love to make an entrance! I’ve been dressed by my designer friend Patrick McDowell from all sustainable materials. It’s all about being kind to the planet now, babes.
“I’m cutting down on food waste and everything... We’ve got to all start thinking about the bigger picture! I’ve cut down on plastic, too. Luckily, I’m a natural beauty so I don’t need it in my face!”
After her agonising split from James “Arg” Argent last year, Gemma has firmly moved on with car salesman Rami Hawash, 46, with whom she rekindled a relationship in April after previously calling off their engagement in 2013.
They’ve gone from strength to strength this year, with the pair sharing photos of each other on social media and Gemma calling Rami The One in August.
“Rami’s not with me today because he runs his own business and he’s busy with that,” smiles Gemma.
“He’s not in my showbiz bubble – he has his own world and I like it that way. I’m the GC and I want a man to look after me! I like to be wined and dined, he’s my perfect man!”
The former TOWIE star finally ended her tumultuous on/off relationship with Arg last July after he suggested they have an open relationship. Cruel messages later emerged where he had dubbed her a “hippo” and a “fat f--k.”
Despite her rocky past and years of heartbreak, Gemma says she can’t wait to marry Rami later on this year in a top-secret location.
She adds, “I’m really looking forward to walking down the aisle. I’m having an intimate celebration with family and friends at a famous London hotel and then I’ll have a massive party later on. But one thing’s certain, I won’t be having any bridesmaids... it’s all about me, baby!”
Gemma has been vocal about her desire to have children, previously saying, “I will have a baby and I do want a baby. I want to feel motherhood… I’ve not had the physical experience of being a full-time mum. I don’t want that robbed from me in my life, that would be a travesty.”
Gemma suffers from polycystic ovary syndrome and has tragically had two miscarriages in the past – her latest happened last year during the first lockdown while she was back together with Arg.
The star opened up recently, saying, “It’s not so easy for me to get pregnant. But I am ready for it.”
Check out: Gemma Collin's best diva moments
Gemma Collins' best diva moments of all time - slider
1 of 12When Gemma paraded through the Big Brother garden with a Shetland pony
When the Celebrity Big Brother stars were asked what one-off luxury they would like to be treated to in the isolated house, what did Gemma ask for? Contact with her family? Nope. A pamper treatment? Not quite... No, the GC asked for none other than a Shetland pony - which she proceeded to dance with around the garden. While stroking the pony, Gemma exclaimed "I want pink ones with glitter in their hair".
2 of 12When Matt Evers saved Gemma's precious blow-dry from the rain
Matt Evers protects Gemma Collin's fabulous blow-dry whilst leaving himself to become soaked in the rain on the Dancing on Ice red carpet.
3 of 12When Gemma slipped during her Dancing on Ice routine
The 2019 series of Dancing on Ice is the gift that keeps on giving and poor old Gemma had viewers glued to their screens when she tripped over her foot and skidded across the ice. Ouch. The TOWIE queen soon picked herself up and styled through her ice-skating miss-hap. Jason Gardiner reportedly suggested that Gemma's fall was karma for her diva tantrum the week before.
4 of 12When Gemma's entourage fixed her dress on the NTAs red carpet
Can you even call yourself a diva if you don't enlist a personal helper on the red carpet? The GC had her entourage to hand, ready to smooth out any creases in her glamorous dress.
5 of 12When she spent 72 hours in the jungle
Gemma famously lasted just 72 hours in the I'm a Celebrity jungle, but she still managed to make the nation laugh with her outrageous behaviour. The TOWIE star even insisted "People that murdered get treated better than this, and thats the truth. Even a murderer gets fed three times a day."
6 of 12Gemma's infamous candy scene
Ah, the early days of Gemma and Arg's relationship. The GC was filmed in a Marbella special, when she famously told on/off boyfriend Arg "Don't ever disrespect a girl like that again. Take a good look at this, you ain't ever gonna get this candy.", before dropping her throw and strutting away in a black swimsuit.
7 of 12Gemma's friendship with Kim K's BFF
Gemma made pals with no other than Kim K's best-friend, Jonathan Cheban in Big Brother, where she told him "By the time you're finished with me, I'm gonna be a Gem-dashian." The stars have been friends ever since and Jonathan even flies over to the UK to visit Gemma, where the pair go on fancy shopping trips to Harrods together.
8 of 12When she was a total diva in an interview
Anyone else still cringe when they remember that painfully awkward chat between Gemma and an interviewer who hadn't read her book? The GC had a major diva-meltdown when she found out the journalist hadn't been seen a copy before holding the interview, thus ending the call, "Darling, don't worry, we're going to get the book publishers to send everyone doing an interview the book. Thank you, bye!"
9 of 12When Gemma went into full GC mode on Jason Gardiner
Dancing on Ice has been full of feisty celeb dramas. Gemma didn't hold back after Jason Gardiner accused of her being lazy. The TOWIE star furiously shouted "Boring!" before yelling, "Don't sell stories on me." Poor Matt Evers couldn't even hide how awkward he felt...
10 of 12When she dumped her date live on Loose Women
Ah, poor Laurence Hearn - the charming man that attempted to win over Gemma, only to be dumped live on Loose Women weeks later. OUCH.
11 of 12Basically, her entire time in the CBB house
Other hilarious moments from Gemma's stint in the Big Brother house included yelling at producers, "I don't need the money! I've got money!". She also got upset when Big Brother failed to provide professional blow-dries: "This is very expensive hair and its all frazzled, because you've only got straighteners in here, you haven't got heated rollers. So, you can pay for me to have a new set of extensions. Straighteners are what weirdos use on their hair."
12 of 12And when she fell down the trap door at the Teen Choice Awards
Talking of Gemma's tumbles - how could anyone forget her iconic fall down the trap door at the BBC1 Radio Teen Choice Awards?
She now tells Closer that since her tour – The GC’s Big Night Out, which saw her travel around the UK performing to her fans – has been cancelled it means she now has time to focus on trying for a baby with Rami.
She says, “I’ve just had to cancel my tour due to the pandemic, so I have a lot of time on my hands now! I’d love to have babies and I’m definitely not going to waste any time.”
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She moved into her “dream home” in February, relocating to a £1.35m five-bedroom Essex house, which she says will be perfect for a family. And having struggled with anxiety in the past, Gemma says the lavish and spacious grounds have done wonders for her mindset.
She says, “I’ve absolutely loved settling in. I consider myself quite green-fingered, although obviously I don’t do the actual gardening myself. I have two old boys who come round once a week!
“But getting out in nature definitely makes me feel good. I really love gardening and spending time outside. My garden’s the size of a football pitch and it could definitely give some of the stands here [at the Flower Show] a run for their money!”
Get the best celeb interviews in Closer magazine each week.