Gemma Collins and James “Arg” Argent’s dramatic break-up a couple of weeks ago seems like it’s going to stick this time around. The famously on/off couple split after Arg called his girlfriend a “hippo” and a “fat f--k” via text – which Gemma then posted online. But an insider close to the diva tells heat she’s already trying to move on, starting with a nice relaxing break in Tenerife.
“Gemma has surprised herself at how quickly she’s bounced back after the whole Arg split,” we’re told. “At the end of the day, she’s been dealing with taunts and insults like that for years. But what’s really helping her is the fact that she’s never been busier in her career right now – and she believes it’s got a lot to do with getting out of that toxic relationship.”
But for Gemma – who was recently revealed as the new face of airline Wizz Air and celebrated by sunning herself in a bikini in the Canary Isles – it’s not just a thriving career that has perked up the 39 year old.
“What has got Gem really smiling is chatting to a rich businessman on a celeb dating app she signed up to and it’s the perfect distraction for her. It’s early days, but Gem has told pals he’s just what she’s looking for right now,” our source says.
Check out: TOWIE stars then and now
heat TOWIE stars then and now stacked
1 of 20Lauren Goodger in 2011
Lauren Goodger takes on the red carpet at Essex Fashion Week back in 2011, a year after the show launched. Stripes and fake tan for days.
2 of 20THE GLOW UP - Lauren Goodger now
Oh YASS, the glow up is real.Check out Lauren Goodger in 2018. We don't know what magical moisturiser she is using but we are well jel - she looks younger. She briefly returned to TOWIE and has since launched her tanning brand LG Tan.
3 of 20Harry Derbidge in 2010
TOWIE's sweet heart and cousin to TOWIE royalty, Amy Childs, at the afterparty of a film premiere. Looking so young and fresh faced.
4 of 20THE GLOW UP - Harry Derbidge now
After quitting the show TWICE in 2014 (so, extra) he followed in his cousin Amy Childs' footsteps and opened his own boutique which later closed down. Now, he is a social media influencer and make-up artist and slaying the game. He has also announced his adoption plans with his fiancé Dean Rowland.
5 of 20Gemma Collins in 2011
Do you remember when she was a brunette? Yeah, no one does.
6 of 20THE GLOW UP - Gemma Collins now
"So, girls"She later ditched the bangs, the brunette hair and the excessive tan.After becoming TOWIE's most meme'ed star, she's launched her own TV show Diva Forever, dropped a podcast and she continues to be in an on/off relationship with James 'Arg' Argent.
7 of 20Amy Childs in 2010
Amy Childs in her signature red hair back in 2010 - on the red carpet for the launch of The Only Way Is Essex.
8 of 20THE GLOW UP - Amy Childs now
After being the first one to quit the show, she stormed the showbiz world with her own reality TV show, starred in Celebrity Big Brother and she is now reported to be worth over £5 million. She's also a mum to Polly and Rich.
9 of 20Mark Wright in 2011
Other than being an immediate TOWIE heartthrob / major palyer, he also used to model early on in his career.
10 of 20THE GLOW UP - Mark Wright now
Mark is now happily married to Michelle Keegan. He has his own radio show, he used to be the face of Take Me Out: The Gossip and he ventured across the pond to work with Mario Lopez on Extra.
11 of 20James 'Arg' Argent in 2011
This is what he looked like in 2011, a year after TOWIE launched.
12 of 20THE GLOW UP - James Argent now
Following his break-up from his on screen love, Lydia Bright, he took sometime off from TOWIE. He appeared on and off for a number of series but in 2020 he opened up about his cocaine addiction and eating disorder. He is now in an on/off relationship with Gemma Collins.
13 of 20Lydia Bright in 2011
Lydia opened her own boutique as soon as she joined TOWIE. She left the show after major drama with co-stars James Argent and Gemma Collins.
14 of 20THE GLOW UP - Lydia Bright now
Lydia's now mum to a little girl, Loretta.
15 of 20Sam Faiers in 2010
Quintessential Essex glamour is the best way to describe this picture but she definitely wins the best glow up...
16 of 20THE GLOW UP - Sam Faiers now
She 100% glowed up the most. Her life changed drastically since she first appeared on TOWIE. After leaving the show, she became a mother to Paul and Rosie. She followed Amy Childs' footsteps and joined Celebrity Big Brother and she has her own show The Mummy Diaries. You go girl.
17 of 20Kirk Norcross in 2010
He is a TOWIE original. He left the show three years after first appearing on our TV screens.
18 of 20THE GLOW UP - Kirk Norcross now
Not much has changed, except he is a dad to two children now.
19 of 20Maria Fowler in 2011
She had a very short time on TOWIE after she was dubbed "just a f***ing extra" by Kirk - harsh, right?
20 of 20THE GLOW UP - Maria Fowler now
We use the term 'now" very loosely with Maria, this picture is from early 2017 - that's because we can't find any recent pics as she is keeping it on the down low. We do know that is she is a makeup artist now, she's married to Kelvin Batey and they're expecting their second child later this year.
“He’s tall, dark, handsome, older and really successful. She wants a real man, who will respect and look after her, not a boy like Arg, who has bullied and demeaned her. This man has been desperate to get Gem out on a date, but she’s decided that if she is going to get into another relationship, then she doesn’t want this one to be so public.”
Gemma and Arg have had a turbulent relationship since meeting in 2011, but it had clearly become too much for Gemma as she recently told her fans, “Something will happen one day and you will just say enough is enough. It’s in that moment the nightmare is over.”
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And now we’re told she’s ready for a more grown-up relationship. “It’s not about rubbing Arg’s face in it, it’s about putting herself first for a change and really moving on with her life for good. She doesn’t want to pay for any more little boys who are rude to her and don’t know how to treat her well. She wants a sophisticated man who can take care of himself and her, and she thinks she might have just found him.”
Read more in the brand new issue of heat magazine - OUT NOW. Find out how to get your copy at home here.