Chantelle Houghton showcased her four stone weight loss as she hit the beach during a break in Spain on Saturday.
The former Celebrity Big Brother star, 40, who recently claimed the reality show ruined her life, looked incredible in a skimpy yellow bikini as she strolled along the shore.
Chantelle oozed confidence whilst modelling the bandeau style swimwear which highlighted her lithe legs and toned midriff.
Having hit 13 stone in 2021, the mother-of-one overhauled her diet and exercise routine after splitting with her ex-fiancé Michael Strutt and has now gone down to a size 8.
She wore her long dark tresses in beachy waves over her shoulders and showed off a glowing holiday tan.
Confident: Chantelle Houghton showcased her four stone weight loss as she hit the beach during a break in Spain
Work it: The former Celebrity Big Brother star, 40, who recently claimed the reality show ruined her life, looked incredible in a skimpy yellow bikini as she strolled along the shore
Chantelle became a household name through her unlikely entry to the Celebrity Big Brother house via the completely fictional girl band Kandy Floss.
But 17 years after becoming the first non-celebrity to win the show – and scooping £25,000 in the process – Chantelle admitted overnight fame ruined her life and made her hair fall out.
Now 40 and a mother-of-one, Chantelle was picked by Channel 4 producers to play out a Celebrity Big Brother twist by entering the house as a fictitious pop singer.
The act was soon rumbled by her fellow housemates – among them Michael Barrymore, Pete Burns and Jodie Marsh – but she endeared herself to the general public and even managed to find love on the show with The Ordinary Boys star Samuel Preston, who she married in 2006.
However fame came at a price, and Chantelle admits living life in the spotlight had a detrimental impact on her mental health.
‘I was going through a really awful time. I was abused for a very, very long time,’ she told The Sun.
‘I lost myself in a lot of misery and I’m getting myself back bit by bit and enjoying being the person I always was.’
The former bank clerk says her weight was also impacted, with fans often stunned by her fluctuating body shape.
Stunning: Chantelle oozed confidence whilst modelling the bandeau style swimwear which highlighted her lithe legs and toned midriff
Before and after: However, Chantelle has overhauled her lifestyle and has now dropped to a size eight
Progress: Having hit 13 stone in 2021, the mother-of-one overhauled her diet and exercise routine after splitting with her ex-fiancé Michael Strutt and has now gone down to a size 8
Bronzed: She wore her long dark tresses in beachy waves over her shoulders and showed off a glowing holiday tan
Star: Chantelle became a household name through her unlikely entry to the Celebrity Big Brother house via the completely fictional girl band Kandy Floss
Tough: But 17 years after becoming the first non-celebrity to win the show – and scooping £25,000 in the process – Chantelle admitted overnight fame ruined her life and made her hair fall out
Icon: Now 40 and a mother-of-one, Chantelle was picked by Channel 4 producers to play out a Celebrity Big Brother twist by entering the house as a fictitious pop singer
Fun: The act was soon rumbled by her fellow housemates – among them Michael Barrymore, Pete Burns and Jodie Marsh
‘I wasn’t eating, or only eating when I was starving,’ she recalled. ‘And then, when I was starving, I was eating anything I could get my hands on. I’d stop at McDonald’s or get a bag of crisps or a bag of chips.’
Chantelle, a strict vegan, says she is now in the shape of her life after losing five stone thanks to a sugar-free diet – but her weight isn’t all that’s changed.
Once famed for her peroxide blonde hair, the TV personality has since reverted to as more natural brunette look, in keeping with her decision to distance herself from the past – and with good reason.
She said: ‘Because I was so blonde, and due to the pull of the extensions, I ended up with so many bald patches.
‘So I had the extensions all taken out, went dark and just do weekly Kerastase treatments on my hair and I take care of myself now.’
Despite her marriage to Preston coming to an end in 2007, Chantelle says she still has a good relationship with the singer – but admits they haven’t seen each other in three years.
‘Being in the house and meeting Preston was a whirlwind,’ she said. ‘It was such a happy time.
‘I finally got over the fact I was the only non-celebrity, I’d passed the task, and then I was just slowly falling in love with somebody.
Popular: She endeared herself to the general public and even managed to find love on the show with The Ordinary Boys star Samuel Preston, who she married in 2006
Difficult: However fame came at a price, and Chantelle admits living life in the spotlight had a detrimental impact on her mental health
Candid: ‘I was going through a really awful time. I was abused for a very, very long time,’ she told The Sun
Hurt: She added: ‘I lost myself in a lot of misery and I’m getting myself back bit by bit and enjoying being the person I always was’
Change: The former bank clerk says her weight was also impacted, with fans often stunned by her fluctuating body shape
Rules: Chantelle, a strict vegan, says she is now in the shape of her life after losing five stone thanks to a sugar-free diet – but her weight isn’t all that’s changed
Nice: Once famed for her peroxide blonde hair, the TV personality has since reverted to as more natural brunette look
Past: Despite her marriage to Preston coming to an end in 2007, Chantelle says she still has a good relationship with the singer – but admits they haven’t seen each other in three years
Love life: Chantelle went on to date TV presenter Rav Wilding, before embarking on a doomed relationship with former cage fighter Alex Reid – with whom she shares a ten-year old daughter
Happy: Despite misgivings about her life after Big Brother, Chantelle – who also appeared on Ultimate Big Brother in 2010 – admits she would go back in a heartbeat
Love: ‘Hell yes, I’d do Big Brother again, I’d be running there,’ she said, admitting an extended period with no bills and no responsibility would be enough to tempt her
Making a comeback: The show returned to Channel 5 on October 8, five years after going off air
Old times: Chantelle was picked by Channel 4 producers to play out a Celebrity Big Brother twist by entering the house as a fictitious pop singer
‘I’ve still got so much love for him. We were just so young, and it was so full-on. It was like a holiday romance, but it was so much more intensified.’
Chantelle went on to date TV presenter Rav Wilding, before embarking on a doomed relationship with former cage fighter Alex Reid – with whom she shares a ten-year old daughter.
Despite misgivings about her life after Big Brother, Chantelle – who also appeared on Ultimate Big Brother in 2010 – admits she would go back in a heartbeat.
‘Hell yes, I’d do Big Brother again, I’d be running there,’ she said, admitting an extended period with no bills and no responsibility would be enough to tempt her.
The show returned to screens on October 8, five years after going off air.
Simple: Chantelle went accessory-free for her day by the water
Gorgeous: Making the most of the sunshine, Chantelle enjoyed a refreshing paddle in the water, gazing into the distance as she soaked up the sun
Beauty: She left her long dark tresses loose for the outing and opted for a light palette of makeup
Gorgeous: Chantelle oozed confidence whilst modelling the swimwear which perfectly highlighted her slimmed down frame
Hydrate: She sipped from a bottle of water
Tan: She topped up her bronzed glow
Toned: She showed off her slimmed-down frame
