Chanelle Hayes has apologised for posting about weight loss shorltly after Nikki Grahame died from anorexia.
The mum-of-two took to her Instagram stories to tell fans that a previous post was pre-scheduled, and that she had taken it down as a mark of respect for the tragic 38-year-old.
She wrote: "I have immediately deleted it because I know the sad sad news about Nikki and I feel it was completely inappropriate, even though unintentional
"I met Nikki on several occasions and she always had me in stitches, such a character. The news is utterly horrid, and I find it terrifying that anorexia and other eating disorders have such power over people.
"Sending love to all Nikki's friend and family at this horrible time."
Chanelle appeared on Big Brother in 2007, a year after Nikki.
She has faced her own struggles with food and body image, admitting she had almost suffered from an eating disorder after finding fame.
Speaking on Loose Women in 2016, she said: "[I was] probably very close to it at some point.
"Especially from being thrown randomly from chilling out in Wakefield and going to Leeds uni to living in London and everyone else seemed so much skinnier than me at the time."
She recently revealed that she had lost seven stone after having a gastric sleeve fitted and now only eat small meals of around 400 calories.
Nikki's close friend Leon Dee announced that the troubled reality favourite had passed away yesterday, adding that she had died the day prior.
Writing on a GoFundMe page pals set up to fund private treatment for her life-long condition, he wrote: "It is with great sadness, we have to let you know that our dear friend Nikki passed away in the early hours of Friday 9th April.
"It breaks our hearts to know that someone who is so precious was taken from us at such a young age.
"Nikki not only touched the lives of millions of people, but also her friends and family who will miss her immensely.
"We would like to request privacy at this difficult time, while Nikki's friends and family process the sad news. Full details will be released as and when we know them.
"All donations have been greatly appreciated and it was heartwarming for everyone including Nikki to see how much she was loved."
