Gemma Atkinson reveals she was targeted by cruel body shamers after giving birth as she poses in a sexy red swimsuit for Women's Health UK
Gemma Atkinson revealed how she deals with body shaming as she posed in a very sexy red swimsuit on the cover of Women's Health UK on Friday.
The presenter explained some people asked her why she hadn't got back in shape quicker after welcoming her second child with fiancé Gorka Marquez.
Gemma, 40, shares daughter Mia, five, and son Thiago, 17, months with the Strictly Come Dancing professional, 34.
She said that she has her own way of dealing with online trolls as she posed in a number of sports bras and shorts showing off her toned abs for the photo shoot.
Gemma shared : 'A few people messaged and said, "I thought you'd be in shape quicker; you're so into your training; I'm surprised it's taken you 10 months."
'My mum used to say – well, she still says to me – if someone doesn't know you personally, why would you take what they say personally? Even if someone says something lovely, it's so nice, but you can't take it on board because you walk around with a swollen head.'
Gemma Atkinson revealed how she deals with body shaming as she poses in a very sexy red swimsuit on the cover of Women's Health UK on Friday
The presenter explained how some people have asked her why she hadn't got back in shape quicker after welcoming her second child with fiance Gorka Marquez
For her cover shoot, Gemma looked incredible in the one shoulder swimsuit which boasted a daring cut out on the waist revealing her toned midriff.
Styling her long blonde tresses in a neat braid, Gemma, who said she is 'embracing ageing as best she can', placed her hands on her hips as she posed for the cover.
In a second shot, the radio presenter rocked a black sports bra and matching pants as she lay on the floor.
The mother-of-two put on a leggy display in a pair of red cycling shorts and a matching sports bra as she posed with a black leather jacket draped off her shoulders.
For the final two looks, Gemma wore white sportswear with colourful jackets as she posed holding a large white medicine ball.
Elsewhere in the interview, the star said there is 'no point fighting' ageing and she is feeling 'fitter and stronger' than she has ever been.
Gemma also opened up on returning to training at her own pace following welcoming son Thiago in July 2023 via C-section.
She said: 'I kept telling myself, 'You've been sliced open – through, like, seven layers [of tissue], yeah? Let that heal before you do anything.' So I focused a lot on nutrition…And then after about 13 or 14 weeks, I started doing light exercise again.
'I gradually built myself back up to where I am now...I feel the best I've felt. So, it's taken more than a year, but I just did it in my own time, at my own pace – and now I feel great.'
Gemma said that she has her own way of dealing with body shamers online as she posed in a number of sports bras and shorts showing off her toned abs for the photo shoot
Speaking to Women's Health UK, she said: 'My mum used to say if someone doesn't know you personally, why would you take what they say personally? Even if someone says something lovely you can't take it on board because you walk around with a swollen head'
Gemma, who said she is 'embracing ageing as best she can', looked incredible in a red sports bra and matching shorts
Gemma regularly shares her ups and downs of parenting life on social media.
In October, the former soap star hit back at mum-shamers who criticised her for nipping her son Thiago 'to teach him a lesson'.
MailOnline revealed at the time that Gemma had told her two million followers she had pinched Thiago in retribution for the tot doing likewise to her daughter Mia, five.
Some parents felt her actions were a bad form of punishment, with Jo Studholme, editor of Parenting Expert, admitting it is 'harmful'.
Jo told MailOnline: 'Pinching a child back as a form of punishment is not only ineffective but can also be harmful.
'It teaches children that violence is an acceptable way to resolve conflict.
'Instead, try using positive discipline techniques such as time-outs, loss of privileges, or talking calmly to the child about their behaviour.'
Gemma defended her actions on Wednesday in an Instagram story after receiving heaps of backlash.
She said: 'Thiago is going through that phase where he's nipping and biting.
'I said he really nipped Mia the other day so I went like this back to him (gesturing pinching), and said 'Aye, we don't nip.'
Elsewhere in the interview, the star said there is 'no point fighting' ageing and she is feeling 'fitter and stronger' than she has ever been
Gemma also opened up on returning to training at her own pace following welcoming son Thiago in July 2023 via C-section. She also shares daughter Mia, five, with husband Gorka
'I didn't 'uuur' (insinuating pain while pretending to pinch her own arm), as if I would?'
The former Hollyoaks and Emmerdale star, who also featured in a reality show with Gorka and the pair's two kids on the W Channel, posted her original message on Instagram Stories to highlight the behavioural differences between her children.
The post read: 'Really noticing the differences in how Mia was to Thiago. It's fun to watch. Toys are just banged or slid across the floor and the tantrums are new as Mia didn't have them.
'He pretend cries and throws himself on the floor. I stand and watch until he realises it's getting him nowhere and they are slowly getting shorter.'
On the pinching, she adds: 'He pinches when he gets frustrated. I did it back to him on Wednesday as he did it hard to Mia. He's not done it since.'
Gemma's full interview is available now in the Jan/Feb issue of Women's Health UK or on the WH website.
