Gemma Collins says that she’s thinking of hanging up her diva heels and retiring her alter ego, The GC, as she turns her attentions to more worthy causes.
Gemma first rose to fame on TOWIE in 2011 and quickly established herself as one of the biggest characters in the show’s history, surpassing her Essex roots to launch her own superbrand as The GC and fronting her own show, Diva Forever.
But now it seems like she could be about to put that all behind her to follow in Princess Diana’s footsteps, who she called “an incredible woman”, as she pursues humanitarian causes.
“People are going to see a huge change in me next year, I'm turning 40 and the people that inspire me to do incredible humanitarian work,” she said.
"Princess Diana has been in the media a lot, and you look at her when she walked through the landmines and stuff and she's such an incredible woman."
CHECK OUT Gemma The GC Collins' most 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?
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"This is where I want to take my work now, I've got everything I want in life, I don't need anything more.
Speaking to The Sun she continued, "I am so happy with where I am in my life and it's time for me to work my magic with other projects.
"The GC might have to be put on ice for a little bit, we might have to freeze her for a bit.
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"When I turn 40 I want people to think more of Gemma and more of my humanitarian work and things I am passionate about in life."
Gemma hasn’t had the easiest ride of it throughout her 30s, with her on/off “toxic” relationship with fellow TOWIE star James ‘Arg’ Argent dominating her private life.
But a source recently told Closer Gemma is “upping her standards” for a reunion.
“Gemma’s in a great place physically, emotionally and financially,” the said. “She’s regained her confidence and knows her body clock is ticking, so is refusing to waste any more time with anyone who won’t treat her the way she feels she deserves to be treated.”