Gemma Collins reveals surprising new career move, lifts lid on hitting rock bottom & real reason behind her £4m success

SHE first burst on to our screens 15 years ago as unapologetic diva “The GC” – but now Gemma Collins wants to put her sassy alter ego to bed. While the Towie favourite built her multi-million-pound empire on being brash and fearless, she insists that behind the glitz she is just a big softie. TOWIE favourite Gemma Collins wants to put her sassy alter ego ‘The GC’ to bed Credit: Splash Gemma said she became a caricature of herself to seize her moment in the reality TV spotlight Credit: instagram In an exclusive interview, Gemma said: “I had to become a caricature of myself. “You either bring it to the cameras or you’re gone. I had to get a thick skin — became very performative . . . that’s business. “The GC has got that armour up. Whereas I love my family. I’m always at home, always cooking. I cry over the most stupid things. “I’m actually a very sensitive person. But you can’t be soft in business. “Since turning 45, I said, ‘I want to bring out Gemma. I don’t want to be The GC as much’. “People still want The GC but, as I’ve got older, I’ve got a lot more comfortable in my own skin. “I’m not false. Whether you like me or you don’t, I don’t lose sleep over it. I know who I am inside. “I knew what The GC brand business had to do, to get where she needed to get.” She is worth a reported £4million thanks to brand deals, reality TV shows, social media ads and property investments Credit: Rex Despite her success, Gemma has been through her share of setbacks personally and financially Credit: Splash Despite being emotional, when it comes to business Gemma insists she’s “very on the ball when it comes to making a pound note”. She is worth a reported £4million thanks to brand deals, reality TV shows, social media ads and property investments. Gemma said: “I had my first job at 13. I’ve always had it in me. Forget The GC, what you see on the TV — me, Gemma Collins, I am a grafter. “I’m not frivolous. I like to have a good time. I love a bargain. I’ll go down the market still and ask for money off. “I did go through a stage where I had loads of money and it was a great feeling. I’d never had money like that before. “And I did go in Gucci and it bores the hell out of me now.” Gemma says that her incredible work ethic is the reason she took part on the 2014 series of I’m A Celebrity, just hours after being assaulted. The Diva Forever star was dating convicted drug dealer Alexander Moss at the time, who she claims assaulted her during a vicious robbery the day before she was due to fly. She said: “I was dating a very bad person who had a criminal past, stupid me, and he robbed me basically, and beat me very badly. “He broke into my flat. Took all my shop earnings for the day. And literally left me for dust on the floor. Gemma says she is a ‘grafter’ and her work ethic is the key to her success Credit: Timmie Gemma has revealed the true story behind why she quit I’m A Celebrity after only 72 hours Credit: Instagram “And even after that, I still managed to pick myself up, pack my bags and head for the airport. “I couldn’t let ITV down, and I think this is what a lot of people lack in their work life, especially youngsters. “I still thought, ‘Even though I’m in a terrible state, I cannot let ITV down’. I can’t not turn up for this massive opportunity. “And I got to the airport and I got on the plane and when I went into the jungle, you know, they sent the counsellor and everything and I was like, ‘No, I’m fine . . . jazz hands!’ “Because I knew I’d been given such a fabulous opportunity. I didn’t want anyone to take that away from me. But when I went into the jungle, I went into the camp, it hit me. “My body was in pain. I was just not in a good place.” Gemma was heavily ridiculed for her appearance on the show, after becoming hysterical when she was asked to jump from a plane and complaining she’d contracted malaria. She ultimately left the jungle after just 72 hours. Gemma added: “I took so much stick for that for years. She can’t do the jungle, blah, blah, blah. “And I don’t blame anyone because they didn’t know what had happened. “But I admire myself, actually, knowing that I was not in a good way and I had to say no and come away. “And that meant me taking lots of stick, lots of embarrassment, lots of people saying not nice things about me. “That was a really awful time in my life and, you know, the phones then go quiet, the work’s not coming in. And it was just a very, very bad time.” Now Gemma is happily settled with fiancé Rami Hawash, 49. The pair are set to document their IVF treatment and journey to the altar in a new Sky Max series Gemma Collins: Four Weddings And A Baby, which will air next month. Gemma is happily settled with fiancé Rami Hawash and is set to appear in a new documentary Credit: Instagram Gemma had her redemption on I’m A Celeb when she returned for the All Stars special in South Africa Credit: Getty And Gemma said that becoming a mother was a struggle, revealing: “I’m trying to have a baby, but let’s see. It’s not going very well at the minute.” In a clip for the upcoming show, she said: “Having a baby is not easy. You don’t want to be making the wrong decisions in your life.” Gemma was also offered a shot at I’m A Celeb redemption when she returned for the All Stars special in South Africa this year. She said: “I was so excited and again, thank you to the man above for giving me this brilliant opportunity because I took such a massive blow last time. “It was the best thing, and I’m so grateful. Life has a funny way of showing up for you when you need it. “People got to see the softer side of me. When I went into the jungle, I had nothing to lose. I didn’t need to be The GC — I’ve already made a career doing that.” Gemma was working as a saleswoman at BMW in Harold Wood, Essex, when she was plucked for TV stardom. She said of her former job: “The day I sat in the showroom with the earpiece in, selling cars and making a fortune I could not believe it — ‘How the hell have I gone from £3.25 an hour and now I’m taking home thousands?’ “They’d come in, I’d size them up a bit. I never, ever judged anyone because the people that have got all the flashy gear, they’ve got f*** all. You get to my age and realise it’s the people with the holes in their shoes and the carrier bags that have really good money.” She previously revealed a spooky voice told her that her life was about to change. She told her All Stars campmates: “I was sitting in the showroom one day, and it was like someone was standing next to me and whispered in my ear, ‘Your life’s about to change’. “I looked round and thought, ‘What was that?’ But I knew I’d been given a message. “Then I received a call, ‘Would you like to come in — Towie here, we’ve heard you’re a bit of a character?’ “And they said, ‘We really want you on the show. If you could have a break from your job for seven weeks, and then we’ll see where it is at the end.’ So there were no guarantees.” As well as the highs of fame, Gemma has also dealt with crushing lows in the industry. Her clothing boutique in Brentwood, Essex, went bust in 2018 — and her subsequent fashion brand was folded in 2022 after it expanded too fast. Gemma has been mourning the death of her mum Joan, 70, after a battle with pneumonia Credit: Rex Features Gemma credits Joan with being the “real driving force” in her family Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Gemma said: “The failures and the falls are the best things that can ever happen to you. “So, you know, the shop was printing money, then I had a clothing brand. “I was supplying 50 stores of Evans up and down the country with my own clothing brand. I went from a small shop to having loads of stuff, a massive warehouse. “Basically, we grew too quick. I couldn’t control it. I didn’t have the experience. And then it ended pretty quickly. “I didn’t pay myself for a couple of years. It was very hard work. “One day I broke down crying, it was over breakfast to a dear friend of mine, and I said, ‘I don’t know how my life has become so out of control. “Where have all these big finances come from? Where’s all this volume? I’ve run before I can walk.’ “I did fold the company. I was advised to fold the company. The shame I felt from that. At that point, I’m just being honest. I did feel an absolute failure. “But I went to bed that night and tomorrow’s always another day and I thought, I’m going to wake up tomorrow and I’m going to start again. “Anyway, two days later, New Look called me, unbelievable, going, ‘We’re going to offer you £250,000’. “I’d just bought a house, so any bit of money after you buy a house . . . you know we all need that. “And I was like, ‘Hell yeah! I’m back in business, baby’. “I believe in God massively and I was like, He’s pulled it out of the bag for me — because it doesn’t matter where you are in life. “You do always think, ‘How long have I got left?’ But it just seems to keep coming. It just doesn’t seem to end. But you know what’s for you, won’t pass you.” Last month, Gemma lost her beloved mum Joan, who died aged 70 after suffering with pneumonia. In a touching tribute, Gemma said it had been the “greatest privilege” to be Joan’s daughter. Gemma credits Joan with being the “real driving force” in her family when she was growing up, sacrificing to put food on the table for Gemma and her older brother Russell. Gemma said: “I grew up seeing Mum going without. She couldn’t even afford to get a bus to Romford. She’d walk. “If we had a chicken, she’d make it last three days — chicken dinner, chicken soup, chicken sandwich. “As life went on things did change a bit, but I’ve never, ever gotten over the sacrifices it takes to make it.”