Gemma Collins was born on 31 January 1981 in Romford and is 43 years old. She originally came to fame starring in the reality TV series The Only Way Is Essex. She has gone on to appear in more reality TV shows, including the Gemma Collins: Diva series, and also owns her own fashion and beauty lines.
Gemma will discover her family history on Who Do You Think You Are? on Thursday 26 September 2024. Here’s five things you might not know about the star…
1. Start in sales
Before appearing on The Only Way Is Essex, Gemma Collins worked as a car saleswoman.
2. Small screen stardom
Gemma Collins has appeared on reality TV programmes including I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, Celebrity Big Brother and Dancing on Ice.
3. Literary launch
Gemma Collins has written two books, Basically… My Life as a Real Essex Girl and The GC: How to Be a Diva.
4. Alter-ego
Gemma Collins is known for her ‘diva’ persona and inspiring many online memes. She has said that her alter-ego, “the GC”, is an “over the top” character that’s different from the real her.
5. Mental health struggles
In 2022, Gemma Collins was praised for presenting the Channel 4 documentary Gemma Collins: Self Harm & Me, where she spoke about her experiences with self harm.