Yahoo Finance Emily Atack Reveals "I’ve Inadvertently Lost a Stone But my Confidence Doesn’t Hinge on a Number on the Scale"
Few of us can imagine the constant scrutiny that comes with being a TV star. The sharp focus on, not only what you say and how you act, but also the unwavering obsession with how you look. Emily Atack - who first found fame on The Inbetweeners in her late teens - has experienced relentless interest in her body for years, but it was also while on the telly that the 31-year-old finally felt 'free' about her curves.
In Women's Health's April issue - out now - the actress and presenter opens up about how she finally felt body confident thanks to the 2018 series of I'm A Celebrity, which she starred in alongside the likes of Fleur East, coming runner-up to Harry Redknapp.
'My weight has long been criticised [on social media], so wearing a bikini in the jungle was a daunting prospect,' she explains. 'But the experience forced me to rebuild my relationship with my body; because there was nowhere to hide, I had to embrace those insecurities and I returned from Australia feeling free.'
The popular show, also helped her realise that she didn't need to hide beneath make-up - that people accepted her in her own skin. 'I was nervous about going barefaced. But it turned out to be a great opportunity for me not to care about what I looked like,' she recalls.
'People watching were able to see beneath the fake tan armour and it was so heart-warming when I realised that they accepted that version of me – freckles, messy hair and all.' Even though she still loves getting glammed up for her job, it's something she still takes comfort in.
Similarly, Emily has found a healthy balance when it comes to food - and has discovered intermittent fasting keeps her nourished and fuelled for a busy filming schedule, comprising of the likes of Celebrity Juice and The Emily Atack Show.
'I don’t have breakfast – I’m not a morning person – and I’ll eat my first meal, usually a chicken salad, around midday,' she explains. 'Mid-afternoon, I’ll have a snack, and then another meal early evening, which is normally a pasta-based dish or a HelloFresh delivery if I’m busy. And if I want dark chocolate, popcorn or my favourite pad thai takeaway, I won’t deny myself.”
Like many of us, the star - whose comedy tour Emily Atack: Has Left The Group is due to take place this autumn - has discovered the joys of home cooking. In Emily's case, starting meals from scratch has also had an unexpected side-effect.
'Eating out less over the past year, I’ve inadvertently lost a stone,' she reveals, before noting, 'my confidence doesn’t hinge on a number on the scales'. When it comes to protecting and nurturing her mental health, the star turns to boxing workouts as well as a new interest in meditation. 'I’m quite spiritual. I believe in positive energy and manifestation – that what you put out into the universe, you get back,' she adds.
Emily also bravely opens up about her 'tricky' relationship with social media after being subjected to sexual harassment on Instagram. 'The online world is a double-edged sword. My DMs should be a safe space, but everyone’s allowed to say what they like,' she says. 'Social media is a huge part of my job and I love reaching out to fans and get so much support back – I have every right to that relationship.' And, for that reason, she'll never be driven by trolls to delete her account.
We're there with you, cheering you on Em!
Read the full Emily Atack interview in the April issue of Women’s Health UK, on sale from 3rd March 2021, also available as a digital edition.
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