Laughing and soaking up the sun’s rays, The Only Way Is Essex star Sam Faiers and her mum Sue stepped out in their bikinis in Dubai last week – looking more like sisters than mother and daughter.
While Sam, 22, showed off her amazing size 10 curves in a multicoloured two-piece, Sue, 42, displayed her age-defying size 8-10 figure in a sexy black bikini.
And in an exclusive interview with Closer, Sam says that although her mum is naturally trim, she and her sister Billie, 21, have always struggled to maintain their slimline figures.
She reveals: “My mum’s so lucky because she has a naturally skinny body. She hardly has to work at it, but Billie and I have to hit the gym and watch what we eat. Mum’s trick is being a good cook – she always makes delicious healthy salads. I’m starting to think men fancy my mum more than me! She looks incredible for her age.”
'At Sam’s age I had a skinny frame, whereas they have curves.'
Meanwhile, 5ft 7 Sue – whose husband David Chatwood, 57, (Sam and Billie’s stepfather) was arrested last year and is set to appear in court this week over a £1million gold bullion heist – says her svelte 9st shape is down to a healthy diet and good genes.
Youthful Sue tells Closer: “I’m quite body confident as I’ve always been around the same size and weight. It’s just my build – at Sam's age I had a skinny frame, whereas they have curves.
“I don’t cut things out of my diet – if I want a Chinese every now and again, I’ll have it! But I think it helps that I cook everything from scratch and eat quite healthily anyway. I also drink gallons of water.
“I’ll have a piece of fruit for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, then chicken or fish with veg for dinner. I enjoy cycling and swimming and I’ve just joined a gym with the girls, so I’ll try to go three times a week.”
Last year, 5ft 6 Sam – who broke up with her boyfriend TJ last month – released a fitness DVD and slimmed
down to a dress size 8 but, in January, she told Closer she was the heaviest she’d ever been at a size 10 and 10st.
'I’m going to give myself a body overhaul... I want to show off by the pool!'
Now Sam says she weighs 9½st and is determined to get back her ideal 8st 11lbs figure for a girlie Las Vegas holiday in June.
She says: “I’ve been really overindulging on Chinese takeaways, crisps and biscuits, so now I'm going to give myself a body overhaul. Luckily, I’ve always had quite clear skin.
“I’m going to be working out with a personal trainer three times a week, so I can get the perfect body for Vegas. I want to show off by the pool!”
She adds: “I’ll be a lot stricter with my diet – eating lots of fruit. In the evenings, I’m going to try to stick to steak and vegetables. I’ll also take a leaf out of my mum’s book and drink lots of water.”
By Katie Banks
Sam is the face of new swimwear brand Swimear 365.