She shot to fame almost a decade ago as the party-loving star on reality TV show The Valleysand underwent a dramatic body transformation in a bid for the perfect curves.
But as Lateysha Grace shares the exciting news with Closer that she’s expecting her second child in April, she admits that – after some cosmetic procedures left her in agonising pain and in need of corrective surgery – being pregnant again has made her re-evaluate her attitude to her body.
The 28-year-old – who also has six-year-old daughter Wynter – says she regrets having surgery following the birth of her first child.
She says, “I feel so blessed to be pregnant again. But I’ve learned my lesson from before and will do things differently this time. I was so unhappy with my body after I had Wynter, I rushed into surgery a few months after she was born and had a bum lift and breast implants. I wish I could go back and tell my younger self to wait!
"This time will be different, I know what to expect now. My body is going to change. I’m going to put on weight and get stretch marks but, honestly, I don’t care, I’m just grateful to be pregnant.”
Lateysha has had a raft of procedures over the years, including four Brazilian bum lifts, liposuction, breast implants and face fillers, and just months after having her daughter in 2015, she had excess fat from her body transferred to her bum.
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She adds, “I was comparing myself to other mums who just seemed to snap back into shape. This time all my focus will be on the baby – my body can come after. I’m going to go to the gym, work out, eat healthily – I won’t be rushing back onto the surgery table. I put my body under too much strain after having Wynter.”
Lateysha admits she has paid a horrific price over the years in her quest for the perfect curves. She was left scarred, with wounds leaking fluid, and unable to sit down for longer than an hour after having illegal fillers injected into her bum in Miami.
She says, “I really regret not doing my research on some surgeons I’ve used in the past. I’ve gone for cheaper options abroad.”
Take a look: The Valleys - where are they now?
The Valleys: what are they up to now
1 of 18Lateysha Grace THEN
As a fresh-faced 19 year old with a moderately sized bum, Lateysha was partial to a strop, and wasn't averse to dropping her housemates in the shit if it meant she got brownie points.
2 of 18Lateysha Grace NOW
When Lateysha landed her own show on MTV, Million Dollar Baby, she said it was because she wanted to afford to give daughter Wynter all the things she didn't have growing up. Awh.
3 of 18Chidgey THEN
Like Lateysha, Chidgey was – well – let's just say, pretty full of himself. He rated himself as "the best thing to come out the Valleys" and was a gym obsessive from day one.
4 of 18Chidgey NOW
Chidge was a bricklayer by trade, and after filming wrapped, he went right back to the hi vis jackets and cement. But he's also heavily involved with fitness and has a personal training business on the side.
5 of 18Natalee Harris THEN
Natalee came in like a wrecking ball when she joined the show a couple of weeks late – as Chidgey's recent ex, who he had called 'tapped'. Her various love (and sex) exploits dominated her time on the show.
6 of 18Natalee Harris THEN
Needless to say, it wasn't long before Nat was snapped up by MTV's other most debauched offering, Ex on The Beach, and has since earned a living from her X Rated profiles on Only Fans and Admire ME profiles.
7 of 18The Suminski twins THEN
The Suminski twins showed up in season 2 to replace boring Aron Williams, and were truly outrageous. One time, Jason (or maybe Anthony?) peed in a bottle of Apple juice for his brother and Liam to drink. True story.
8 of 18The Suminski twins NOW
They must have calmed down a bit because both of them returned to college, to study Mental Health Nursing and Psychology. This is a picture of one of them, but we can't tell which one.
9 of 18Liam Powell THEN
Liam Powell was the cheeky chappy, who's biggest storyline was his vicious bust up with Carley early on in series one. A lot of his time on the show was spent with Chidgey trying to wingman him a nice welsh fella.
10 of 18Liam Powell NOW
Can we just say, Liam has not aged a day since 2014. It's unclear what, exactly, he's up to from his social media, but he seems to be living a glamorous life with lots of travelling and family time. You go Liam.
11 of 18Carley Belmonte THEN
Carley Belmonte was an aspiring DJ and thought of herself as a seriously cool cat, but lost her edge when she drunkenly proclaimed her love for 'best friend' Chidgey. They made up, though, and it was never spoken of again.
12 of 18Carley Belmonte NOW
Carley's now dropped out of the limelight completely, and though she's not a mum herself, is loved up with a hunky boyf. She's still likes glamming up for a night on the town with the girls, though.
13 of 18Leeroy Reed THEN
Aspiring rapper Leeroy Reed was in trouble with the law a few times back then, specifically for domestic violence charges when he was accused of slamming a car door on his then girlfriend's head.
14 of 18Leeroy Reed NOW
Though he wasn't arrested at the time, and went on to become a dad, Leeroy is currently serving a 22 month prison sentence for his role in supplying drugs in his native south Wales.
15 of 18Jenna Jonathon THEN
Jenna Jonathon had a personality which didn't quite match up to the lary-est of the Valleys lot, but she quickly became a lad mag star and fan favourite thanks to her classic good looks.
16 of 18Jenna Jonathon NOW
During filming, Jenna already had one law degree, but since the series wrapped she went on to get another, earning distinctions in EVERY module. Brains and beauty, although she'd never have told you that...
17 of 18Nicole Morris THEN
Stylist and hair dresser Nicole Morris was known for ditzy antics and absolutely MENTAL hair. She was also the best of buds with Lateysha Grace, and the pair of them regularly ended up snogging at the end of a night if they hadn't pulled other people.
18 of 18Nicole Morris NOW
It's unclear whether Nicole and Leteysha are still close (we like to believe so), but Nicole is certainly still enjoying a night out, and styling herself as a drunk neon barbie. She worked briefly as a shot girl in Magaluf after filming.
And despite saying she won’t rush for surgery after giving birth this time, she does say she wouldn’t rule out having more done at a later date.
“I’d never say never, I might go under the knife again but I’ll be more careful in the future,” she says.
But she is staying away from filler for good.
She says, “I used to have so much filler in my face and I had it all dissolved about a year ago and I look like a different person – everyone says I look much better and now I look like my daughter! I look back at pictures and think, ‘Why did I do that to myself?’ It’s easy in this industry to fall into the trap, but I’m so glad I’ve woken up to it.”
Watch: Lateysha Grace chats to Closer about Million Dollar Baby
Read the full interview in the next issue of Closer magazine - in shops on 28 December.
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