Singer and TV personality Michelle Heaton has revealed her body's scars to promote body confidence in Loose Women's Body Stories campaign
Despite starting her career on TV talent show Popstars which resulted in a pretty successful career in Liberty X, Michelle Heaton has also become known for promoting body confidence - and for her cancer-preventative surgeries.
Over the past five years, Michelle has undergone life-changing operations after she was found to have a mutated BRCA2 gene, putting her at a higher risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer.
After the faulty gene was discovered in 2012, she was told there was an 80% chance she would develop breast cancer and a 30% chance of developing ovarian cancer.
Making the decision for the sake of her family, Michelle, mum to Faith, five, and Aaron, three, bravely chose to have a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.
She then underwent a full hysterectomy after the birth of her son in 2015, also choosing to have her ovaries removed too. Her other scars are from two caesarean sections and heart surgery.
But today, Michelle fought past her body demons to stand on the Loose Women stage in a bikini and show that she is not afraid of the scars that represent her potentially life-saving surgeries.
Standing in a blue halterneck bikini, Michelle, who has been married to businessman husband Hugh Hanley for nearly seven years, told the panel: "My whole thing is to get women to be more confident about their bodies no matter what size they are and to show that you can change the way you look if you want to."
Even though she was visibly shaking with nerves, she bared all and said: "No matter what your body goes through in life, we're all very strong and do whatever we want to do and be whoever we want to be.
"So I thought if I don't do it and show everybody that you can do it, who am I to give advice to other people?" adding that it was "kind of invigorating!"
But it wasn't all laughing and joking on the show as Michelle explained to the panel that she was concerned about telling her five-year-old daughter Faith that she may also carry the gene.
She said: "When I think about when the time comes that I have to tell her what happened and that she may have to make the decisions that I made, it's a scary thought."
As a result of her hysterectomy, Michelle started going the menopause at the age of just 37, and on the show she revealed that she has to have hormones implanted in her bum every six months, and so she also has scars from each of those surgeries.
She also told OK! Magazine: "The big thing was getting my head around the fact I couldn't have more children.
"When you come around and you've dealt with the fact you can't have any more children, you're not crying over that any more because I'm not one for regrets. Now it's the realisation that more recovery is needed than I thought."
Michelle has taken the brave steps as a part of the Loose Women Body Stories campaign, which launched on Tuesday with the regular Loose Women panellists stripping down to bikinis and swimsuits in a photoshoot to promote body confidence - with NO airburshing or retouching.
Nadia Sawalha said of the campaign: "I have wasted more time than I can to think of over my body issues. I've always hated being naked.
"Stepping into the studio in my bra and pants was beyond cringe. There I was stretch marks, cellulite and all the battle scars of life for all to see with the knowledge that there would be zero airbrushing.
"And to be honest that's why I wanted to do the shoot. I wanted to practice what I preach to my daughters. What the hell does it matter what we look like as long as we are smart, brave and kind?"
Stacey Solomon added: "I have lots of bits and pieces I don't like about my body - saggy boobs and stretch marks and the thing that really bothers me is my love handles. In pictures I put my arms in a certain place, to hide them, they are so bumpy. I know people say to me ‘Oh, slim girl problems’ - but it really bothers me.
"I don't want my kids to worry about how they look as much as I do. The thing that really worries me is that my nine-year-old son talks about wanting to go to the gym to build muscle! Even the kids' toys have muscle on them like Batman and Spiderman.
"But what I hope this photoshoot shows women and men is that in most celebrity pictures there has been some form of airbrushing or retouching – so they shouldn't compare themselves to unrealistic ideals."
Katie Price also had her say on the campaign: "I have produced five babies so I can't knock my body – it's a proper machine.
"There's no body the same – I've got scars, they're good memories. We're all imperfect, all bodies tell a story. I don't regret any of it. Everyone should embrace who they are. At the end of the day you should be loved for who you are."
Some people hit out at Katie for taking part in the campaign, claiming that because she's had plastic surgery, she shouldn't take part - rather missing the point, don't you think?!
But Katie responded with her own statement on the matter: "I'm proud to support this campaign because I have much right to own my body story as anyone.
"I've had five kids, lots of surgery and my body has scars on it. But I've always been open about it, it's my body and my body story. And I'm happy with my body's scars and all."
Good on the Loose Women, we say!
Have you or a loved one had any preventative surgeries? Let us know over on Facebook and Twitter.
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