Charlotte Crosby’s new mum-glow is unmissable from the second the Zoom call connects. She’s all smiles, and, fortunately, the start of the interview is not derailed by the fact we’ve classically forgotten to come off mute (a tale as old as COVID).
“I’ve just got to show you this before we begin,” she insists after heat’s technical blunder. Cue the heart melt, as she holds up her phone to us show an adorable, broodiness-inducing video of her three-month-old daughter Alba smiling at the camera, sent by her boyfriend and baby daddy Jake Ankers.
It’s clear the reality star, 32, is loving motherhood in all its glory, but she is also loving herself. And after 40 minutes of hearing her talk about her positive outlook after a tough year, and her honesty about her surgery, we have to say we love her, too…
Congratulations on becoming a mum! How is parenthood treating you?
I love it – I want to be a positive role model for my daughter. It’s the best job I’ve ever had, but I don’t want to let it define me. That’s one thing that shocked me, how amazing motherhood is. I was actually a bit worried, because of all the negative things that people tell you, like, “You’ll not get any sleep when the baby is here.” I had more sleep when my child arrived than I ever did in the last three months of pregnancy!
How would you describe Jake as a father?
Jake’s the most amazing dad. He is so hands-on, honestly. We do everything together. Up until she was 12 weeks, we did every single feed, every single change – just everything together. I’m lucky, because Jake’s got his own business, so he has people who work for him, and he can work from home. There were very rare times when he would be away.
Has it been hard to juggle your career and parenthood?
I can’t take maternity leave – I’ve got to work, as I’m self-employed. If I don’t work, I don’t make money. There was one point where I felt like work was getting a little bit too much, and I was like, “OK, I’m taking on a little bit too much now and I’m feeling a bit stressed.” But that was just work-related.
What would your advice be to new mums?
Ask for help if you need it. When you become a parent, you feel like you have to do absolutely everything. Sometimes it feels like you can’t ask for help, because you’re going to be a failure. That’s simply not the case in the slightest. You need to have a little reset, not just for yourself, but for your child, because you want to be the best version of yourself for them. So, don’t be ashamed about asking for help – it’s not something you should feel bad about. It’s actually an intelligent thing to do, otherwise you’re going to burn out.
We bet your mum loves being a nan…
When she was going through her cancer treatment [her mum was diagnosed early last year], the thing that took her mind off everything was Alba. She was the shining light in the dark, with my mum having breast cancer and my nana passing away last year. I can’t even imagine what my mum was going through. The only time she forgot about it all is when she had her first-ever grandchild.
What was your experience of an elective C-section?
I loved everything about it, it was absolutely magical! There was not one shred of worry and I wasn’t in any pain. I feel so empowered to have had one.
You’ve spoken honestly about having lip fillers. What was the turning point in you getting those dissolved?
Pregnancy made them swell up so much, but they were already big to start with. Before pregnancy, they were manageable, and I didn’t think I looked ridiculous. However, when I got pregnant, they just kept swelling and swelling – I had so much water retention. After I gave birth, they just weren’t going down. I was like, “Oh God, this looks horrendous!”
Did it take a while to get used to having your old lips back?
When I first had the fillers dissolved, I didn’t like it. I really struggled – I’d had the big lips for eight years! Looking at myself in the mirror, it was a shock. It felt really different, as I was having to learn to adjust to my face again. Just after I’d had it done, I did a photo shoot, and I felt really uncomfortable. When I smiled, my lips were disappearing and all my insecurities about them came back. But now I’m fine with them.
What prompted you to get lip fillers in the first place?
When you’re on TV, there are a lot of little things that you pick out about yourself that you want to change a little bit. Trying to explain that to people is quite hard. I thought, “I’ll try and like my lips.” But I didn’t, so I changed them. You get one life, I didn’t want to sit there and be unhappy. I don’t regret getting them, either, but they’re gone now!
Is there anything you’d tell your younger self?
The only thing I would say not to do is get a boob job. I have congenital symmastia [a rare condition that leaves women without a cleavage]. I tried to fix that, because it’s a strange thing to have. I don’t have a cleavage, I have breast tissue that’s grown over it, so my boobs are joined together in the middle. I can’t wear anything low-cut. I tried to change that, but in actual fact, I made it worse [Charlotte had corrective surgery and implants in 2017, which she later had taken out]. I looked back at a picture before I ever had my boobs touched, and they weren’t as bad as they are now.
What would you say to your daughter if she ever wanted surgery?
I wouldn’t be mad. I’d be like, “Let me at least pick the surgeon and go with you. Don’t ever get anything done behind my back and don’t ever go to Turkey!” As long as my daughter feels like she can come home and have that honest conversation with me, I feel like I’m doing something right. I know a lot of people save up money behind their parents’ backs and get on a flight to Turkey – that’s not the relationship I want to have with my daughter.
We want to say a huge “amen” that you’re not bothered by what the scales say…
I’m not obsessed with weighing myself in the slightest. I feel really good in myself. Exercise is more of a mental thing – it’s when I’m the best version of myself. It’s a really important self-care thing for me to do.
How has your “Blitz n Burn” fitness app helped you?
During my pregnancy, I experienced a really big low – I got a bit of prenatal depression. My body was changing so much and I had a really bad pregnancy. I thought, “Am I ever going to get back to how I used to feel?” Then I had Alba, and I still wasn’t feeling all the energy, happiness, positivity and drive that I used to. I was like, “This is it now, just because I’m a mum you just don’t feel the same as you used to feel.” After my first workout, all those things came flashing back. I was on cloud nine. I was like, “Oh my god this is the start of the rest of my life!” I rely on exercise to keep me feeling good mentally.
Tell us about your new series, Charlotte In Sunderland – what can viewers expect?
To see a completely different side of me in my life – and they will get to see the birth of my baby girl. They’re going to see some huge highs and some really huge lows, sadly. It was a roller coaster believe me, and I just hope that if anything, we can help people who are in similar situations in their families.
Do you ever watch old episodes of Geordie Shore?
Throughout lockdown, I started watching them again. It was the funniest time ever! I am my own biggest fan. You’ve got one life in this world, if you cannot love every inch of your soul, there’s just no point. I watch it and I’m like, “F**k you were so funny!” Why don’t they show the funny, off-the-cuff lines anymore? During the reunion, I gave it my all and then half my best bits didn’t get shown!
Speaking of Geordie Shore, what kind of mum do you think Holly Hagan is going to be?
I think she’s going to be so protective – and a worrier – because she’s going to love them so much. I think she’s going to be on the phone, “Charlotte this happened, what does it mean?” I’m so excited for her. The Geordie Shore girls, I class as my sisters. We’ve been through a lot together, so it’s really exciting that we’re all slowly moving onto the next chapter of our lives.
Are you watching Love Island?
I’m not. The summer one’s good, but then the winter one comes along and I’m not ready for it!
Would you have ever gone on?
Totally! If it had existed back in the day, and there wasn’t Geordie Shore, I would have applied. Most of us – not me, I was very skinny – were size 12 or above. They don’t have that size on the show. It wouldn’t have been a show for us real girls of Geordie Shore!
What’s next on the agenda for you? Do you see yourself “mumfluencing”?
Oh no, I’m not about that. There’s too much trolling. I don’t consider myself an influencer because I’ve never “influenced” anyone. The followers I’ve got aren’t just because I share my clothes online – I’ve been on TV for 12 years. I don’t want to be an influencer. I’m running two businesses, as well as a fitness app, and doing interviews and TV shows. I’d be happy to go the way I’m going!
Charlotte In Sunderland launches on Wednesday 1 February at 10pm on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer