Pregnant actress and radio star Gemma Atkinson has been applauded after she shared an inspiring post from her family holiday. Hits Radio presenter Gemma had fun playing on the beach with her three-year-old daughter Mia while promoting body positivity.
The doting mum, who is expecting her second child with Strictly Come Dancing pro Gorka Marquez, told how she packed some beach trousers to wear after feeling swollen and bloated and saying she's never had as much cellulite in her life. She says four years older after her first pregnancy it has been harder on her body.
But former Hollyoaks and Emmerdale actress Gemma, 38, decided to ditch the trousers from day one of the holiday after thinking about the 'negative effect' it could have on Mia. The star, from Bury, has since been wearing her bikinis every day while making memories as a family.
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"I bought some beach trousers to wear on this holiday, because even though im aware why it’s happening and how clever my body is, I’ve never been as swollen, bloated, uncomfortable in every day tasks and had as much cellulite in my life," she explained as she took to Instagram with a video of mother and daughter having fun on the sand.
"My boobs alone are three cup sizes up! Second pregnancy, almost four years older and with a little boy this time it’s been a lot harder on my body. (I know how we feel about our bodies is relevant to the individual and it’s just how I currently feel in MY body) I got to the beach on day one of this holiday, looked at Mia playing and I suddenly felt relaxed. It dawned on me if I kept them on that she’d ask why I’m in trousers and I thought about the negative effect It could have on her down the line me saying 'because mummy’s legs & bum are a lot bigger than usual.'"
She continued: "I don’t ever want her to feel like she should cover herself, especially on the beach! So the pants came in handy to wipe up my non alcoholic cocktail but other than that, they haven’t been needed! Ive worn my bikinis every day. "
Gemma added: "The top of my thighs chaffed like a MF but we had an absolute blast on the beach and made the most incredible memories as a family. I can’t belive next time we’ll have little man with us as a family of four. We’re so lucky and so blessed."
And in a signing-off message to her followers she wrote: "REMEMBER! Loving your body only when it’s 'in shape' is like loving your pets only when they behave. Norm and Ollie s*** on the kitchen floor occasionally but I love them none the less."
Her fiance Gorka, 32, told her lovingly: "You look perfect to me!" and This Morning presenter Alison praised: "This is lovely you look incredible."
TV presenter Jenny Powell said: "Spot on and just wow ...you are blooming and it’s a joy to see!!" And rosieholliday85 commented: "Thank you so much for writing this. Currently pregnant with baby number two, and four years on since my first pregnancy too. I resonate with absolutely everything. You look great."
Lisakate_41 said: "What a great role model you are not only for Mia but for girls/women alike, you look fab and happy which is lovely to see." And sara.gohl cheered: "Yes Gem! Keeping it real as always. You look fab xxx"
On her Instagram Stories she poked fun at herself by sharing a picture showing her middle and legs while lying down on the beach. "At this point even I' unsire if I have my bikini bottoms on," she wrote with a crying-laughing emoji.
Gemma, Gorka and Mia have jetted off for what she previously said will be their last holiday as a family of three after she revealed back in January that they are expanding their brood. The couple shared the joyous news that they were adding a baby boy to their family alongside a string of black and white images posted to their Instagram pages in January after the mum-to-be said it was "impossible" to hide her growing bump any longer.
Last month, Gemma told fans that she had entered the stage of only wearing sports bras and was in need of new underwear. In a comical video, she said: "I'm off shopping today again. I'm off bra shopping because I'm at the stage I'm just sports bras only at the minute."
And the down-to-earth star added drily: "What else? hairy tummy even though I'm shaving it daily." She continued: "Sweating profusely. Yeah, just the usual stuff that comes with growing a human." Placing her mug on her growing bump she added: "That's handy."
She then went on to poke fun at herself as said she also needed new swimwear for a holiday for her growing bump. She joked that she resembled Oswald Cobblepot, also known as The Penguin, from the film Batman Returns. "I looked like Oswald Cobblepot this morning, I tried swimming stuff on. I looked like Danny Devito in Batman," she quipped.
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