This Christmas, Scarlett Moffatt is determined to enjoy herself with all of the trimmings and more - admitting that while her friends want to lose a couple of pounds here and there, she thinks like is 'too short'.
It comes as a far cry from the days where the 32-year-old would openly berate herself for eating 'the wrong things' after shedding three stone.
She said: "My friends all wanted to lose a few pounds to get into their little party dresses, and I just think life is too short. And Christmas is about enjoyment not denying yourself."
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The Mirror reports that she continued: "When you ask me what I am looking forward to at Christmas, I wouldn’t like to think anyone would answer that, saying ‘It’s to look really skinny in that dress’.”
The County Durham lass first rose to stardom in 2014, appearing on Channel 4's Gogglebox and winning an army of fans through her larger than life on-screen personality and sassy quips. At the time, she was a size 16 but slimmed down significantly within a year of leaving the show behind and appearing on ITV's I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!
By then in demand for TV roles, she left the jungle in December 2016 as the winner, and was soon releasing an exercise DVD. Now, after years of yoyoing between sizes eight and 18, she happily embraces her curves.
Currently back to a 16, her social media feed is filled with inspiring messages on the subject of body positivity.
Scarlett said: “I just want to encourage my friends to live the best life. It took me a lot of confidence to post a picture of me in a swimsuit because even I didn’t know if the comments would be kind or not.
“But now I honestly don’t care. When I meet young girls and the mums of young girls, and they say it really helps them... just makes me feel I’m doing my job properly.”
Christmas Day this year will be extra special for Scarlett. It’s the first one the TV star is spending in her own forever home, she reveals. For while she moved into a stunning new-build property in County Durham with police officer boyfriend Scott Dobinson last year, 12 months ago Scarlett was away playing the Fairy Godmother in panto in Crawley.
But this festive season she has limited her workload to pre-recorded TV shows, starring in one-off special Celebrity Lego Masters at Christmas on Channel 4 last night. So while we all tuned in, she’ll have been settling down at her home (which has a cinema room, fire pit and a wine fridge).
The centrepiece is a high-spec kitchen, where the couple, friends and family will congregate.
Scarlett, 32, said of cooking her festive feast: “There will be turkey and also a joint of beef, sprouts, parsnips and red cabbage. My favourite bit is the pigs in blankets. I love them! I’m hosting, but it’s going to be a shared effort.
“My family are coming and my friends. My mam makes all the meats – the turkey and a joint of beef. My friend will do the pudding. And I’m in charge of condiments, just opening jars, to be honest. I’m going to make a cake, too. Well, I’m going to attempt to, that’s as far as my culinary skills go.
"I haven’t had a proper at-home Christmas in six years – I’ve either been working or due to Covid restrictions. So it will be so nice that there are no limits.
“I am able to spend it with my mum and dad and nan and all that. I’m really excited.”
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