Preparing for any battle is no joke: it requires a disciplined mix of training, rest and psyching out the competition – and WAGs Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy were getting in a little practice ahead of their upcoming High Court fight last week.
While they may have been thousands of miles from home on their luxury holidays, the pair seemed to be going all out to prove once and for all: “Anything you can do, I can do better.”
Let’s look at the facts: despite their geographical differences – Coleen flew to Barbados with the family while Becky and co headed to Ibiza – both ladies practically mirrored each other. Over the course of their breaks, we saw a parade of sexy swimwear, loved-up displays with their footballer husbands, hands-on mum time with their kids and, of course, a requisite amount of hours looking flash on a luxury yacht. And according to insiders, Coleen was definitely winning the fight. Not that anyone was keeping score.
As heat told you last week, Coleen’s been solely focused on gearing up for her big day in court against Becky, who’s suing her for libel after she accused “Rebekah Vardy’s account” of leaking stories about her to the press in October. And despite being encouraged by her family and friends to back down and give Becky a public apology, Coleen remains hell-bent on seeing this through, leading to tension on holiday with Wayne.
Check out: Coleen and Wayne's ups and downs
Coleen and Wayne Rooney's relationship timeline (d slid m stack)
1 of 22Wayne Rooney Coleen Rooney
Even though they first met at school when they were 12, Wayne and Coleen first started dating after they finished school at the age of 16.
2 of 222002
At just 17 Wayne joined Everton football club and even though they'd only been dating a year Coleen admitted that they had already discussed getting married.At the time she admitted: "We want to spend the rest of our lives together and there's no stronger commitment than getting married."
3 of 222003
The happy couple got engaged in 2003 at a petrol station after Wayne got down on one knee. He asked his childhood sweetheart to spend the rest of their lives together with a £46,500 engagement ring.
4 of 222004
Coleen discovered that Wayne slept with a 48-year-old nan in a brothel back in 2002
5 of 222005
The WAG then defended her fiancé and admitted when he cheated they hadn't slept together yet. She added, "we weren't having that kind of relationship at that stage."
6 of 222007
Wayne and Coleen looked totally loved up at a public event a year before they got married
7 of 222008
At the age of 22, Wayne and Coleen tied the knot in a church in Italy!
8 of 222008
9 of 222009
2009 – A year after their wedding, the happy couple welcomed their first child Kai into the world
10 of 222010
Just a year after they had their first child it was alleged that while Coleen was pregnant, Wayne cheated with prostitutes Jennifer Thompson and Helen Wood.
11 of 222010
Even though Coleen and Kai moved out of their family home following the allegations, the married couple put their troubles aside and reunited.
12 of 222013
The happy couple look so adorable with their son Kai while they await the arrival of their second child
13 of 222013
The Rooney's welcomed their second baby into the world – Klay
14 of 222016
In 2016, the Rooney family welcome baby Kit into the world
15 of 222017
During the summer holidays Coleen denied being pregnant after this photo emerged (even though she was)
16 of 222017
After denying her pregnancy for weeks the happy couple soon confirmed the exciting news - that they're having their fourth child!
17 of 222017
It was shortly after the Rooney's announced they're having their fourth child that Wayne was pictured and arrested for drunk driving.
18 of 222017
Things went from bad to worst after it came to light that Wayne was driving Laura Simpson's car. She then spoke out and claimed that they "had a kiss, a hug, some banter, harmless fun".
19 of 222017
It was then reported that Coleen along with her sons had fled from the family home after revealing her marriage was over.
20 of 222017
Following the scandal, Wayne received a driving ban for two years following his arrest and Laura appeared on This Morning to deny ever cheating with the footballer.
21 of 222017
After weeks of speculation around the couples marriage, it appeared that all was forgiven and forgotten as it was reported that the pair were planning on renewing their wedding vows.
22 of 222017
Coleen then surprised everyone by being totally honest in a Facebook post and admitted that although she's been through a "shit time" she decided to forgive her husband because she wants to "try and continue our marriage and live as a family".
But judging by her beaming smile in Barbados last week, the mum of four was keen to show that she was barely fazed by all the drama. Posing in the sun with Wayne, their kids, Kai, ten, Klay, seven, Kit, four, and two-year-old Cass and her parents, the 34 year old looked like she didn’t have a care in the world, and she wanted us all (and Rebekah) to know it, telling her followers, “Having a great time on our favourite island”.
“Coleen made sure she went all out to prove that no other WAG holidays like she does,” an insider tells heat. “She’d guessed that Becky would also be going away around the same time and she knew people would be comparing them, so she changed up her style. She was very keen to win the battle, and everyone agrees that she did.”
Read more:
Piers Morgan's son Spencer spotted looking VERY cosy with Love Island star
Meanwhile, Rebekah, 38, put up a good fight, lording it up on the family’s rented super-yacht with husband Jamie Vardy, their kids – and model Caprice. Because nothing says “I’m ready for war” like having a former Sexiest Woman In The World cheering you on. Now, both ladies have returned from their travels tanned and ready to go.
Let battle commence.
Read more in the latest issue of heat magazine - OUT NOW. Find out how to get your copy at home here.