Frankie Essex has candidly discussed her ongoing body dysmorphia battle.
Speaking to hosts Bobby Norris and Stephen Leng on FUBAR Radio’s Access All Areas show on Thursday, the former TOWIE star, 32, emotionally revealed that she ‘always pressured’ herself into losing weight.
The sister of Joey Essex explained that she felt pressured to look a certain way when she was younger.
Opening up: Frankie Essex has candidly discussed her ongoing body dysmorphia battle (pictured in 2012)
Frankie sweetly said that her personal trainer boyfriend, Luke, has now taught her to ‘love who I am.’
She emotionally shared: ‘When I was younger, I did. When I was younger, I didn’t know, obviously, it was a big wild world to us both…
‘I thought I was big and when I look back, I was tiny when I first started TOWIE. I was so skinny, but I thought I was big.’
Talking about her body dysmorphia battle when she was younger, Frankie said: ‘I had this, what is it called, body dysmorphia.
Loved-up: Speaking to hosts Bobby Norris and Stephen Leng on FUBAR Radio’s Access All Areas show on Thursday, the former TOWIE star, 32, sweetly said that her personal trainer boyfriend, Luke, has now taught her to ‘love who I am’
Pressure: The sister of Joey Essex explained that she felt pressured to look a certain way when she was younger (pictured in 2011, left, and 2012, right)
‘Because I used to be quite big when I was younger, like in school, and I lost loads of weight and I was really slim, but I still thought I was big in my head.’
Frankie added that she ‘always pressured’ herself into losing weight and is happy that the new ‘ideal’ body shape for women is now ‘all about the curves’.
She said: ‘Years and years ago, it was about being skinny and being this skinny model. And then, Kim Kardashian and all that little lot came around. It was all about the curves. And it’s like, I’ve embraced that now you know.
‘Like, I’ve got a bum, my mum had a bum, my mum had boobs. A lot of girls get their bums done now, don’t they? They want all these BBLs. I definitely don’t need that!’
Radiant: Frankie added that she ‘always pressured’ herself into losing weight and is happy that the new ‘ideal’ body shape for women is now ‘all about the curves’ (pictured in October)
Frankie went on to discuss her recent weight loss, after dropping two stone in July, she said: ‘Well, it still goes up and down. Like I train and then, I just love my food. I’m not going to lie. I’ve got a sweet tooth. But, like, I’m a woman you know?
‘I’m still really fit. I’m really healthy. I do eat really, really healthy. I don’t like bad food. Even today, my nan and Maddie [Sims] wanted McDonald’s, I don’t like it. I had a coffee. My nan was like, ”have a chip” and I was like, ”I don’t like it Nan”.’
She added: ‘I don’t eat food for the sake of it, do you know what I mean? But if you put a bit of cake in front of me with a cup of tea, I’m going to eat it.’
Smitten: Frankie is loved-up with her hunky personal trainer Luke, with the pair making their first appearance together last November
Frankie went on to discuss the fad diets she has done over the years and sweetly said that her personal trainer boyfriend, Luke, has now taught her to ‘love who I am’.
She said: ‘I’ve done all these fat diets. They work for a little while and then you put the weight back on.
‘But since I’ve been with my boyfriend like, he just taught me to love who I am and that’s it really. Just as long as you eat healthily, whatever you put inside of you is good for you, you know what I mean, if you’re eating healthily.’
Frankie is loved-up with her hunky personal trainer Luke, with the pair making their first appearance together last November.
Last year, Frankie spoke about her new love with Closer magazine and said: ‘Yes, I’m in a relationship. We’ve been seeing each other for a few months, and I’m really happy.
‘He treats me well and is very, very, supportive in every way, we’re good together.’
She also shared a sweet message about him on his birthday on social media.
She wrote: ‘Follow your heart and the magic will too ✨ wishing my darling the happiest birthday today you have been my absolute rock since the day we met…!
‘Your one in a million and I can’t wait to spend another year with you laughing at our own jokes and keeping eachother sane happy 29th + 1th baby I love you [sic]’.
FUBAR Radio’s Access All Areas show continues on Thursdays at 6-7pm.
Cute couple: Last year, Frankie spoke about her new love with Closer magazine and said: ‘Yes, I’m in a relationship. We’ve been seeing each other for a few months, and I’m really happy.’