Three months ago, Charlotte Crosby welcomed her first baby, daughter Alba, into the world with boyfriend Jake Ankers, and the reality star couldn’t be more content.
In fact, since becoming a mum, she tells us she’s the happiest she’s ever been.
Now, the former Geordie Shore star has opened the doors of her luxury home to the cameras for a brand new fly-on-the-wall series, Charlotte In Sunderland, so we can all see how life unfolds for the new mum.
The show follows Charlotte, 32, and her businessman boyfriend in her hometown as they go through all the fun and mayhem of becoming first-time parents.
Working together seems to have made the couple stronger too, with Charlotte telling us in our exclusive chat that she’s hoping for a ring on her finger very soon, and is already thinking about another baby.
Here, the former party girl tells us about her new life, being body confident and how she really feels when the trolls attack…
Congratulations on welcoming baby Alba into the world. How have you been feeling since the birth?
I’m feeling absolutely great, I am the happiest person in the world right now. I can’t believe I’m so lucky to have this beautiful little girl who is just so precious. I was so worried going into my pregnancy because all I’d hear were negative stories about being a mum. Everyone wants to tell you how tired you’re going to be, how difficult it’s going to be, how much your life will change when the baby comes along. But actually it’s been the complete opposite. It’s absolutely incredible, I love every second of it. It’s the best job I have ever had, and I have had a lot of jobs!
Has motherhood surprised you?
I think the shock was just how opposite everything was. I literally thought I’d be getting up all through the night, but at eight weeks she started sleeping through, so that was my biggest shock. I’ve obviously got the most dream baby or I’m just the best parent in the world!
What kind of mum are you?
I’m very relaxed, I’m calm, I’m chilled out, and I think that’s why Alba is the way that she is.
And how’s Jake as a dad?
He is not as calm, he’s quite impatient with things in life – not with Alba, but say something goes wrong with the car seat, he’ll get quite stressed out.
How has her arrival changed your relationship?
Seeing him as a dad is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, especially in the beginning when she was first born. I’ve never loved him more. A lot of people forget about their partners because you’ve got this new tiny human to put all your love into – at first it was a little bit like that for us. We both said we had to make time for each other like we used to. So we consciously made that our goal and something to stick to in 2023.
Has becoming a mum changed you?
Oh 100%, there’s loads of aspects of me that’s changed. Every stage of your life you change, as you grow, mature and enter new chapters. You tend to change what you like in your life, so when I was in my twenties I loved going out and getting drunk, now my perfect time out with friends would be a restaurant, a couple of drinks and home at a decent hour.
You recently posted a picture looking great in a bikini – have you felt any pressure to “snap back”?
I put a lot of pressure on myself, I always have. As a new mum you have to be realistic. I’m working hard, I work out every day – not just because I want to snap back, but for me exercise is mentally so empowering. It makes me feel motivated, positive and driven. When I wake up I do a workout and I literally feel like I can take on the world. I wasn’t working out after my C-section, I had to wait for my recovery and get signed off by the doctor. In those six weeks I was putting more and more weight on. That isn’t bad but I didn’t want to go down that route and be even more unhappy. Mums shouldn’t beat themselves up about it – you’re going to get there when you get there, there’s no race. Do it all in your own time and if you don’t want to do it at all then that’s completely fine as well. There’s absolutely no rule book to this.
Has having Alba made you proud of your body?
Oh my God, so proud. I think the human body is an amazing thing. I already can’t wait to have another baby. I’ve got the bug now!
You’ve been praised by fans for being open about removing your lip filler – how do you feel about cosmetic surgery now?
I would never get any more. I mean, I still have Botox all the time. Lip filler is something I haven’t had for two years pre-pregnancy. My lips swelled and I wasn’t happy with how they looked. But I’m not going to sit here and be totally against it because it can help people, it can boost their confidence.
How would you feel if Alba wanted to change something about her appearance when she’s older?
Having my nose job was the best thing I ever did, I don’t regret it. Say my little girl has wonky teeth, I’m going to get her a fixed brace. That’s enhancing her features. It’s exactly the same as having my nose done, it’s just fixing something that’s not right. If my daughter comes to me and there’s something she’s insecure about, if it’s something that doesn’t need work at all then of course I won’t let her, but if she’s really insecure and I can see it’s affecting her, then of course I’m going to help her.
Your mum was diagnosed with breast cancer last year – how is she doing?
She’s good, she’s finished all her treatment. We’ve just got to wait for her mammogram now. Last year was just a terrible year, I’m so happy we’re in a new one and ready to try and move on.
Tell us about your new TV show…
This is a real personal insight into my life. You get to see the real highs but also the massive lows. I’ve never got this deep on a TV show before. I’ve become a mother and you see me go on that journey.
How did you feel about putting Jake in the spotlight?
I was fine about it, I’ve never had a private life and I think I’ll always share my life because I enjoy doing it, but for Jake it was a different story. He was incredibly nervous, he was always worried about how he was coming across. I just said to him to be himself.
Some people have said you and Jake have moved pretty fast since you got together – what do you say to that?
We are old enough and experienced with ex relationships. I know exactly what I want from a relationship. I honestly think Jake should teach other men how to be with women. It’s like I’ve finally got my happily ever after, it’s a big thing.
Social media can be cruel – are you worried about being judged?
Do you know what, trolls are so normal to me it’s like putting the bin out! It really doesn’t phase me any more. My relationship is the best it’s ever been, it’s pretty much perfect, we’re living in a fairy tale. So there’s nothing that can be said about us that would impact us.
So will there be wedding bells any time soon?
Oh of course, 100%, we’ll definitely get married. I’m hoping he’ll propose this year but he says it’ll be next year. But I think he’s just saying that to throw me off the scent! He already knows the ring design and my finger size, he just needs to ask the question!
Have you thought about what kind of wedding you want?
Do you know what? I haven’t. I kind of had an idea when my nana was still alive because it was centred around where she would be able to get to because she was really old. But now she’s sadly passed away. I’ll have to rethink it all a little bit – the world’s our oyster.
Charlotte In Sunderland launches on 1 February at 10pm on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer
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