TOWIE’s Lucy Mecklenburgh: ‘My very public break-ups have been really tough’

TOWIE star turned fitness entrepreneur Lucy Mecklenburgh talks to Closer about helping her former co-stars shape up and the reality of dating fellow celebs

She dominated TOWIE storylines thanks to her fierce confrontations and for being embroiled in a love triangle in 2011 between Lauren Goodger and Mark Wright.

Since leaving the show in 2013 and throwing herself into her Results With Lucy weight-loss brand and fashion company Lucy’s Boutique, Lucy Mecklenburgh's high-profile relationships have kept her in the spotlight.

Lucy – who has had more than 250,000 people sign up to her Results With Lucy website – dated her former co-star Mario Falcone for two years, whom she was briefly engaged to, then moved on with TOWIE’s Dan Osborne in 2013.

She went on to briefly date The Wanted singer Max George and TV presenter Gethin Jones, before meeting Olympic gymnast Louis Smith on the BBC celeb talent show Tumble in 2014.

But dating in the spotlight has meant messy aftermaths – Lucy, 25, was involved in a Twitter spat with Mark Wright over his bedroom skills as well as a public breakdown of her engagement to Mario.

And she reveals the break-ups have made her want to do things differently in the future. She says: “I’ve been in the public eye since I was 19. I’ve found having public relationships and break-ups really tough. No one ever knows what happens apart from the two of you. Things get exaggerated, rumours start, lies are told. But I’ve learned from my mistakes and I want a low-key thing now.”

However, Lucy showed she had no hard feelings towards her ex of 14 months, Louis – whom she split with in February 2016 – when she Tweeted her support for him during the Rio Olympics. And she says she has been supporting him again in Channel 4 series The Jump, where he’s been competing alongside her BFF and former co-star Lydia Bright. She says: “Louis will smash The Jump – he’s an adrenaline junkie. We’re on good terms and it’s all positive.”

As well as having a healthy approach to relationships, the star – who exercises five times a week – ensures she strikes the right balance with her fitness- focused lifestyle too.

She says: “I’m good Monday to Thursday, but at the weekend I’ll have naughty meals, lots of wine and dessert. It’s important to strike a balance and have fun. Overall, I eat bloody loads. Food is amazing and I’m not stopping myself having chocolate cake when I want it, but I’ve learned to make healthy and tasty foods, so I feel satisfied from that, too.”

Since toning up her naturally slim size 8 body, Lucy has modelled for a range of brands, including Boux Avenue and her own company Lucy’s Boutique, and regularly posts Instagram snaps of her figure to her one million followers.

But she admits social media can sometimes do more harm than good, revealing: “Seeing what everyone’s up to all the time can be bad. My friends get upset when they see their exes get on with their lives on social media and I say: ‘No one knows what goes on behind closed doors.’ I’ve posted photos to make things seem like they’re better than they probably are. It looks great, but it may not be as rosy at home.”

Meanwhile, Lucy says reality TV is “not for her” at the moment and is happy just focusing on her two businesses. However, last week her ex Mario revealed she had

a “new boyfriend” – but Lucy sticks to her word and keeps her lips sealed. She says: “I’ve made the decision to keep my love life more private from now on – but I’m really happy at the moment.”

Lucy Mecklenburgh models Boux Avenue's SS17 collection, available to buy in stores nationwide or online at bouxavenue.com

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