She’s long been hailed as Essex’s very own Bond girl with her bronzed skin and taut abs, and as Suzie Wells poses for our exclusive photoshoot, it’s easy to see how she turns heads with her sensational bikini body.
The age-defying star, who found fame in TOWIE alongside her daughters Billie Shepherd, 33, and Sam Faiers, 32, reveals she often gets mistaken for being their sister.
Suzie, 54, tells Closer, “It’s flattering when people ask about my figure and it does make me feel good about myself. I do laugh when they say, ‘Suzie, you look like a Bond girl,’ I think well yeah, maybe a few years ago, I’m not sure about now – but they still say it!”
Despite her modest attitude, the star, who has six grandchildren, is keen to shatter stereotypes for older women and says she’s been inspired by the likes of Amanda Holden.
“Just because you’re a nan or over 50, doesn’t mean you have to walk around with your hairnet on all covered up, or you can’t go on a night out. If I’m done up, I’ll come downstairs and the grandkids will say, ‘Here’s glam-ma!’ – I love hearing that. My girls are supportive too, if I think I can’t wear something because I’m too old, they’ll tell me to wear it anyway. They’ll do my make-up for me when we’ve gone away together – people say I could be their sister which is sweet.”
She adds, “Life is great for women over 50 now, we’re not pushed to one side or forgotten about anymore. When you see the likes of J-Lo, Davina and Amanda, they look amazing and prove age is just a number.” Unsurprisingly, Suzie disagrees that wearing a bikini comes with an expiry date.
“I think it’s a load of rubbish,” she says. “If you’re comfortable in one, why not? I love wearing bikinis and I’m not going to stop anytime soon. My mum still wears a bikini – she’s strutting about and she’s 77!”
Despite her toned figure, 5ft 10in, Suzie who appears on ITV’s The Family Diaries alongside Billie and her husband Greg, swears she’s never been near a fad diet. Instead she follows a few simple rules of eating whole foods and keeps as active as she can.
The size 10-12 star explains, “I go through ups and downs with my body, but I’ve always said, you have to work with what you’ve got and not write yourself off. Some parts have changed because of the menopause but, on the whole, I feel good. I’m not supermodel tall but I have a lot of length which helps, and I like my shoulders. When you’re younger you can tone your stomach in weeks, but after 45, the weight falls around the middle, so you have to work harder.”
She adds, “I’ve dipped in and out of the gym, but now I prefer long walks and going on my bike. Plus, trampolining with the grandkids keeps me fit. I’ve started doing wall Pilates which is good for stretching and toning. I love to swim. On holiday recently I did 40 lengths a day, it’s a good overall workout. I avoid processed foods and cook everything myself where I can. I don’t follow fad diets, nor do I overeat. I mostly have healthy oils, fruit, fish, chicken, stir-fries, homemade soups and drink a lot of water.” She laughs before adding. “I never say no to a Chinese though!”
And Suzie says she’s passed on her attitude for healthy eating to her daughters. “As a mum, I always cooked well for Billie and Sam. I wouldn’t have allowed them to binge on chocolate and 10 bags of crisps. I always made sure they had their five a day, and meals with meat and veg, and now I see them do the same with their children.”
Meanwhile, Suzie has been open about going through a tough time with the menopause, and even broke down in tears on The Family Diaries as she opened up to Billie about her gruelling symptoms. Earlier this year she told us, “I should feel on top of the world, but the menopause has knocked me. I’ve never suffered with anxiety, but now I get nervous, and I have sleep deprivation.” After being encouraged to visit a specialist by her daughters, Suzie decided to go on HRT. But six months later, she’s come off it and has even lost a stone in the process.
“Things have calmed down, but I still have hot flushes and forget what I’m saying – brain fog is the worst. I stopped taking HRT spray as I didn’t feel any different. A lot of my friends said, ‘HRT is great – just wait and see how you feel’, but I never had that moment where I felt ‘amazing’. It didn’t suit me. On top of feeling bloated I’d ended up with a bigger stomach. As soon as I came off it, I lost the 7 kilos I’d gained, and that’s a big difference.”
The star has since made tweaks to her lifestyle with the help of daughter, Sam. “I take Revive collagen in the morning, which is Sam’s brand, it’s helped my skin, and my hair which was starting to thin – it’s got so much body now. I also take vitamin D, magnesium, and zinc to get rid of tiredness. Sam’s very knowledgeable when it comes to health and wellbeing. She gets clued up on the science behind what works, and she’ll often recommend books for me to read.”
And while she’s content with her looks, Suzie admits she wants to mark the next chapter of her life by finding a partner to settle down with – as do Sam and Billie. The girls’ biological father walked out on Suzie when the girls were young. The star adds, “The girls are desperate for me to get out and find a man – that’s all they keep saying! ‘Mum, for goodness’ sake, you need to find a man for yourself!’ Or they’ll say, ‘Look just for go for dinner with someone and enjoy a bit of male company’.”
And Suzie reveals, she might be swept off her feet thanks to son-in-law, Greg. “Funnily enough, I might be having a date soon, it’s someone Greg knows – obviously not his age,” she laughs. “There’s a guy he knows who said to him, ‘any chance of getting me a date with the mother-in-law?’ He’s single with no kids, a few years older than me, and Greg said he seems nice. I’ve got a lot going on, but I’ve told him to set something up once I’m back from holiday. I’m a bit nervous but also excited because I hardly ever date, but Greg reassured me he’s chatty. I’ve got nothing to lose.”
While the new series of Celebs Go Dating kicks off, Suzie admits she wouldn’t mind a helping hand in her quest for love.
“I do get guys sliding into my DMs saying, ‘Suzie, I’d love to take you for dinner, but I’m a bit old school and would prefer to meet someone in person.’ With the dating apps, I’m always wary about meeting a complete stranger, and finding someone genuine. I’ve seen dating shows, and I wouldn’t say no to putting it in someone else’s hands. I’d like someone tall and family orientated. I’ve got grandchildren and responsibilities, and I’m involved in my girls’ lives. He’d have to understand my crazy lifestyle and go here and there with me.”
Suzie, Billie and Sam became celebrities when they joined TOWIE over a decade ago, while working in their clothing store, Minnie’s Boutique. They’ve since become businesswomen earning sizeable fortunes thanks to brand endorsements and TV ventures. But despite their glamorous lives, Suzie says she’s always encouraged her daughters to be as humble as possible.
“They’re both hard working mums,” she says. “I was a stay-at-home mum and I do look at them and think how do they do it with three kids each? They don’t have nannies or cooks helping them 24/7 like some people think. They’re fortunate to have great partners who help with the children.
“I always said to them in the TOWIE days, treat people how you want to be treated. Remember all these people who come to your shop and take photos of you – they’ve made you who you are. They listened to that, they’re polite, well-mannered and don’t take things for granted and I’m incredibly proud!”
Suzie Wells: The Edit launches 17th Aug at Debenhams and Wallis.