Gemma Collins has spoken movingly about addiction, mental health and her dreams for the future in a candid new interview.
The reality star, 39, whose life was touched by addiction during her relationship with James Argent, who later entered rehab for drug and drink issues told Entertainment Daily that people were ‘petrified of being judged’ when it came to seeking help.
She said: ‘The problem with addiction is it comes in all shapes and sizes and sometimes it’s hard to spot.
Candid: Gemma Collins has spoken movingly about addiction, mental health and her dreams for the future in a candid new interview
Adding there was still a ‘stigma’ around mental health issues, she said:’If someone was suffering with a physical illness, they would get medical help and addiction is no different in that sense. We live in a world where people are petrified of being judged.’
Last year James suffered two near-fatal overdoses at home, with girlfriend Gemma calling emergency services after his family feared he was dead.
The Essex native has since turned his life around and is continuing his recovery after he flew to Thailand earlier this year to go to rehab for his drug and drink addiction.
All she wants for Christmas: Gemma revealed she would love to collaborate with festive legend Mariah Carey for a new Christmas single in 2021 – after the success of her charity single
Gemma has recently released Christmas single Baby It’s Cold Outside, a cover of the classic ditty with CBB pal Darren Day, with all proceeds going to charity, Rethink Mental Illness.
The star’s single shot to number seven on the iTunes chart on the day of its release, with Gemma revealing she would love to collaborate with festive legend Mariah Carey for a new Christmas single in 2021.
She said: ‘I’m sure you would have heard it by now if the GC got a phone call from Mariah. I would love to connect one day, maybe next year we can drop a collab – that would be amazing!”
Next year will see Gemma head in a different direction, after the diva recently told Mailonline she has always ‘hid behind’ the GC as a way of coping, after being branded ‘the fat one’ by cruel trolls when she first joined TOWIE.
Tough times: The reality star, 39, whose life was touched by addiction during her relationship with James Argent, who later entered rehab for drug and drink issues told Entertainment Daily that people were ‘petrified of being judged’ when it came to seeking help (pictured 2018)
After years in the spotlight, Gemma has decided she’s finally ready to step out from behind the caricature she created of herself and give up the ‘razzle-dazzle’ of fame.
She revealed: ‘I am hanging up the GC next year. She is going on ice, not full time but I turn 40 in January and I am very confident in myself now as a woman.
‘I have made my own success through hard work and no one can take that away from me. I did it against a lot of adversity – from when I first stepped on TOWIE, the trolling, the “she’s the fat one” “she’s this, she’s that.”
Honest: She said: ‘I’m sure you would have heard it by now if the GC got a phone call from Mariah. I would love to connect one day, maybe next year we can drop a collab – that would be amazing!’
‘But to be honest, this fat girl has not done badly for herself. I have always hid behind the GC because of my insecurities and not being good enough or confident to be Gemma Collins. But now, since the pandemic, I am totally at peace with myself.’
Gemma came to the realisation she was ready to fully embrace her true self after recognising the success she has achieved over the years, and seeing the impact Princess Diana made while watching Netflix series The Crown.
‘I have been watching The Crown recently and Princess Diana,’ she added. ‘I know she was a princess and I’m not, I’m a Romford girl, but she has done some amazing projects.
‘There are still some countries that don’t have water, what’s that all about? I want to concentrate on that side of things, more things that are important and less of the razzle-dazzle.’
Inspiring: Next year will see Gemma head in a different direction, after the diva recently told Mailonline she has always ‘hid behind’ the GC as a way of coping, after being branded ‘the fat one’ by cruel trolls when she first joined TOWIE