It’s been a year of milestones for TOWIE's Gemma Collins, who announced her engagement to Rami Hawash earlier this year. And after debuting her incredible new weight loss online, the former TOWIE star now tells Closer that she hopes her new health kick will bring her one step closer to motherhood.
Gemma recently announced on social media that she had lost weight by adopting the Fibre First diet, alongside help from fitness guru Steve Bennett. Now the reality star claims that the diet has not only helped her shed pounds, but also healed her fertility issues. Gemma, 43, has been candid in the past about her struggles to conceive, suffering from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and experiencing multiple miscarriages.
The star – who got engaged to Rami, 49, back in February – says, “Rami told me, ‘I just want a baby girl to complete our family’. My brain is so young, I think I’m 15 still, but I can’t help my biology. PCOS has massively affected my fertility, and I’ve got metabolic syndrome as well. The fact Steve has reversed my PCOS by following a fibre-based diet is amazing. The fertility clinic can’t believe the difference from when I first went in to now.”
And with her fertility improving, Gemma says she hopes her baby dreams will soon be a reality. “I’ll be honest, me and Rami have not had much time to have sex lately – he’s been out of the country for a month. Come September, I’m going for it big time. My baby will come when it’s supposed to. If you’re going to give love to a child, you can give love in any form that child comes – whether that’s adoption, surrogacy or through a test tube. I don’t think there’s any right or wrong,” she says.
Gemma and Rami – who is dad to son Tristan, six, from a previous marriage – have been involved in an on/off relationship over the years. The businessman previously proposed in both 2013 and 2021, before popping the question for a third time earlier this year.
Opening up about wedding plans, Gemma says, “Rami and I are getting married in 2026, so I’ve got three weddings and a baby to have in two years. I’m going to have a forest wedding, which is the real version of me. Second and third weddings, I don’t know where they’re going to be yet, but they’ll be very bougie.”
This isn’t the first time Gemma has attempted to lose weight. Over the years, she has been targeted by online trolls over her size, now telling Closer, “If you look at me pre-showbiz to now, I only ever got bigger in showbiz. I think I used to find it stressful. Everyone was going on about my weight, and it became such a big thing. It’s imperative that if we want to get the nation healthy, we don’t fat shame. Everyone has fat-shamed me, and self-love has been a huge journey for me over the years.”
Earlier this year, Gemma partnered up with bodybuilder Eddie Abbew to lose a stone in one week. Opening up about her fitness journey, Gemma shared, “At one point, I lost 20lbs in one week. But hun, could I sustain that? No. I want to eat carbs, especially when I’m due on.”
Now, Gemma says she’s determined to stay healthy naturally – revealing that she regularly turns down offers for weight-loss surgeries.
“I get offered the gastric band op about every week,” she reveals, “But I don’t want it. If it’s worked for people, that’s great, but I still think people who have had them have that look about them.”
Gemma first rose to fame back in 2011, winning TOWIE fans over with her diva personality. And while Gemma – who was involved in a turbulent relationship with James “Arg” Argent, 36, during her time on the show – was known for being a fun-loving party girl, she’s since swapped the streets of Essex for laidback country living.
Gemma shares, “I make rare appearances at parties and events these days, because I have to make the right life choices for me. The other night I was at home with Rami, and we had a nice fresh salad from the garden and an early night. That’s much better for me mentally and physically.”
And having now found her peace with husband-to-be Rami, the reality TV icon says she’s the happiest she’s ever been. Gemma reveals, “I think I’m so comfortable in my skin now that I don’t feel the need to perform for people. I don’t need to be the girl from TOWIE anymore. I’m really happy at this stage in my life, and it’s been a journey to get to where I am today.”
