Gemma Collins urges teenagers to be 'body confident and free' as she shares throwback photos

The reality star said she was concerned about the pressures young people face
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Isobel Frodsham13 August 2019
The Weekender

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Gemma Collins has urged her teenage followers to be “young, happy and free” and not to “worry about what you see” on social media after sharing old photographs of herself.

The reality star, 38, said she “never grew up body conscious” and was concerned about the pressures youngsters face in the nostalgic post.

The photograph features the GC in a blue tartan swimsuit and standing on a boat in a picturesque location.

Writing on her Instagram page, and referring to the image, she said: “Yeah I look good but in an innocent way, there was no panic.

Gemma Collins has posted nostalgic images of herself on a boat
@gemmacollins1

“This pic was NOT taken to fit in with a wall page on make it Instagram worthy [sic].

“Instagram is way too exposed now for young members who are on here. They do have pressure and it’s just so nice to look back on this picture and not have had any of that pressure growing up.”

GC said she didn't feel the same pressure as teenagers do these days 
@gemmacollins1

The self-styled diva added: “I was just a happy teenager with no body hang ups or pressure. I think it’s so important for our younger generation to be body confident and free.

"I just want to say to the younger ones on Insta[gram] be YOU and don’t worry about what you see on Insta[gram], be young, be happy and free."

Last month GC shared an image of herself on holiday in a white swimsuit
@gemmacollins1

She has previously posted about how she still feels body confident.

In a post last month, underneath an image of her on holiday in a white swimsuit, she wrote: “No filter, no edit, just my body confidence, loving myself. I’m so bored of all the fakeness on the [Insta]gram, everyone’s a clone these days.”

Collins confirmed earlier this year she lost two stone by using weight loss injections and improving her diet.

Stars before they were famous - In pictures

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