Gemma Clare Collins (born 31 January 1981) is an English media personality and businesswoman. In 2011, she began appearing on the ITVBe reality series The Only Way Is Essex. Following a brief appearance on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (2014), Collins has appeared in various television programmes including Celebrity Big Brother (2016), Celebs Go Dating (2018), and Dancing on Ice (2019). In 2019, she began starring in her own reality series and hosting a podcast on BBC Sounds.
Gemma Collins opens up on first time she self-harmed aged 13 in front of her parents
Gemma Collins has revealed the first time she self-harmed was in front of her parents aged 13.The 41-year-old reality star has opened up for the first time about her history of self-harm, which she struggled with for two decades.In her new Channel 4 documentary, which airs on Wednesday (February 16) night, Essex beauty Gemma tries to get to the bottom of why she self-harmed by talking to her family, friends and therapistShe explains she first started cutting herself when she was a teenager.Gemma says: "I wasn't self-harming to kill myself.
It was to release."I'd cover it up and get on with my life. I never told anyone because I was ashamed."The first time I cut myself was in front of my parents."They were just in a shock.
It was so bizarre and it never got spoken about again."Gemma later has a difficult conversation with her mother about her self-harming struggles.Joan revealed that her and Gemma's dad Alan decided to avoid the subject because she thought she was "copying someone from the television".The TOWIE star was taken aback by her mother's response and told her it was "a silly thing to say"."I needed some help and support at the time," Gemma tells Joan. "Yours and dad's approach was to 'let’s never mention it'.Joan responded: "Life was busy."A shocked Gemma hit back: "Yeah but what’s more important, life being busy or your daughter cutting themselves?""You seemed ok.
The problem is with you it wouldn’t have been from home life," Joan said."You had everything and was happy. I don’t even know why you did do it.
