Ferne McCann is the first to admit that weight loss jabs have been transformative for those that need them – but is worried the body positivity movement is being forgotten
Fresh-faced and subtly sun-kissed, Ferne McCann is ready for anything. Following a gorgeous family Christmas, which came on the heels of a “magical” skiing trip to Italy’s Dolomites (“I ate my body weight in pizza and pasta,” she laughs), she’s taking 2026 by the horns.
At 35, Ferne, who shares daughter Finty, two, with her fiancé Lorri Haines and has Sunday, eight, from a previous relationship, tells us during an exclusive chat that she’s in a great place – not only with her career and family, but how she feels about her body.
A recent glitzy red carpet event, however, almost risked toppling that self-confidence that had taken her years to build up, she admits.
READ MORE: Zara McDermott swears by this LED face mask for banishing dermatitis flare-ups
“I noticed so many thin women walking down the red carpet alongside me and I’m not joking, I actually felt ‘big’. I started to question my body in a way that I hadn’t done in years,” she explains. “There’s such a rise in people striving to be super skinny again. It feels like a step back, towards that heroin chic look of the 90s.
“Especially as a mum to two girls, it worries me that there’s such a big strive to be super skinny again. What happened to that body positivity movement? Without doubt, this is linked to the rise in weight-loss jabs. Lots of people admit it.”
Ferne is at pains to point out that weight-loss jabs can be very beneficial to those who truly need them – and they’ve revolutionised weight loss. But she also raises concern about people abusing them.
“I want to be very clear, this is not me slamming weight-loss jabs,” she insists. “But I do worry this new culture of ‘thinjections’ does put pressure on people to conform to being ‘thin’ and their widespread use is bringing us further and further away from the body positivity movement and the freedom it afforded us to celebrate ourselves, whatever our size.
“I strongly believe that women should be enjoyed and celebrated in all shapes and sizes. What I noticed were a lot of women on that red carpet that used to have boobs and a bum and just really healthy, gorgeous, female bodies.
“And they’ve just shrunk down to nothing. Of course it’s their choice, but I definitely feel there’s been a shift and it’s very much towards being thin again.”
The former TOWIE star admits none of her inner circle are on the jabs, though it’s their choice – but she says, “Personally, I wouldn’t even consider it. I feel healthy, strong and full of vitality.
“I want to go into my forties feeling stronger and healthier than ever. Yes, there’s an unspoken pressure more than ever to look a certain way, that will continue until we buck those unhealthy trends. We shouldn’t feel pressure to shrink ourselves – we should proudly take up space.”
Ferne calls her eldest, Sunday, the “queen of clubs”, she laughs, as she goes to athletics, gymnastics and the gym, and she believes a lot of it is down to good role-modelling.
“She sees me and Lorri take good care of ourselves. There’s no better message. Honestly, Sunday’s got abs, it’s hysterical! But yes, this whole trend does worry me. It’s a shame to see women in the public eye that now seem to be disappearing in front of our eyes.”
It’s important that we talk about real bodies, she continues – adding that if you saw her naked, you’d see the little “ pregnancy pouch” that most women who have given birth never get rid of. “And that should be celebrated.”
As for her home life, the star says the “juggle is real”. But as a self-confessed homebody, she loves nothing more than hanging out with her crew.
“I’m a social butterfly, but I schedule entire weekends in mine and Lorri’s joint calendar where we plan to just stay home. And I secretly love it when plans get cancelled! Our life is governed by the school run – everything else is just… carnage.”
Ferne’s mum is a huge support and the couple also have a nanny who helps a couple of days a week, as they have Finty at home. “We don’t know if Finty’s going to be our last baby,” she says.
“If we do have another, it will probably be in a few years’ time – but if she is our last, we want to squeeze every last drop of joy from having her around, before she starts at Sunday’s school next September.”
Their little one, says Ferne, is a “total character” and just as sociable as her famous mother. “In Italy she was toddling up to people’s tables, asking people what their name was!
“Sunday’s not as forthcoming, but she’s coming out of her shell, too. She’s our little sports star and super-competitive. She wants to be an Olympian when she grows up and I just think, you go girl – somebody’s got to do it!”
Sunday is currently studying for her LAMDA certificate in singing, but as Ferne – who was once offered a record deal – softly shakes her head, it tells us everything. “I’m not saying a word to her, because my dad once told me I’d ‘only ever be a pub singer’. And I’m telling you – that’s a core memory, I’ve never forgotten!”
Ferne has previously been very candid about her and Lorri’s relationship suffering as they navigate the parenting trenches together – but they have a solid New Year ’s resolution – to get away together soon for a long weekend, without the kids.
The only time they’ve escaped alone since they met was in Puglia last summer for good pal Vicky Pattison’s wedding – but they had to fly home the next day.
She muses, “You might be compatible as romantic partners, but you don’t often ask, are we compatible as parents? That first year or two of having a child together with Lorri was really challenging. We were filming our reality show as well, it was a lot of pressure.
“Things feel like they’ve evened out now. We still have so much fun, Lorri and I, when we have the time – it’s just so hard to find it!” She’s usually so tired, she grins, that they’ll cosy up at home to watch a boxset together, and she promptly falls fast asleep.
“The only thing we argue about really is diary management – it’s the silly things,” she says. “Right now, dinnertime is where I’m in my element, and it’s where we love coming together to chat about our days. There are ups and downs, of course there are – but we’re a team, no matter what…”
Ferne and Lorri have been engaged since 2021 – but there’s still no talk of a wedding. Has there been any progress on that front, we ask? “That’s the golden question!” she says. “It’s not the plan at the moment, as we just don’t have the time.
“We want to plan the wedding of our dreams, definitely abroad, laid-back island vibes, maybe Spain? But we’re more likely to have another baby first, to be honest.”
If they were to expand their brood, Ferne jokes, hilariously, that she just can’t imagine having a little boy. “It has to be a girl. I can’t be dealing with willies! I’m a girl mum, through and through.”
What Ferne does know is that she’ll be unveiling a huge project later this year, which will see her work more “behind the scenes” than before – but can say no more right now.
Meanwhile, she’s excited to be a UK ambassador for top Australian skincare brand QV Skincare. “I love it, my mum’s used it for years! My skin routine these days is so simple, I don’t have the time and skincare can also feel overwhelming,” she says.
“What I really love about QV is that the whole family can use it. Finty has quite sensitive skin with dry patches for instance, and the QV ointment has been a godsend – especially for the dry lips and chapped skin most toddlers get in the winter months.
“I just decant the products and leave them for everyone in the bathroom. The brand is the No1 skincare brand in Australia for good reason and the fact it’s free from soap, perfume, lanolin and irritants is even better.
“It gives me the healthiest-looking skin, it protects my skin barrier and gives me an insane glow. I love the gentle wash and the moisturiser is just insane – it’s so hydrating. I feel so confident in my own skin, and these products help you feel that.”
As for maintaining her healthy figure, Ferne’s weekly workout schedule – one day with her PT, a couple of metabolics classes and tennis on Fridays – plus Monday to Friday “clean eating” will continue apace, but she’s all about moderation, she grins.
The star, who launched her Food With Ferne app last September, adds, “Life’s for living! I’m the world ’s biggest foodie. I’d never give up my favourite foods for how I might look in the mirror. To suppress or remove that from my life would be a complete tragedy.”
She, Lorri and the girls look forward to a cheeky takeaway at the weekend, and Ferne feels zero guilt about getting stuck into a bag of popcorn if they have a family movie night.
“I never work out on a weekend, but we never stop – chasing the kids, walking in the park,” she says. “Don’t get me wrong, I’ve still got cellulite on my bum – I could still pick myself apart if I wanted to, but it’s not realistic and I’m still confident.
“Women strive for perfection but it doesn’t exist. And isn’t the quest for perfection just so bloody… boring?!”
Ferne is UK ambassador for QV Skincare, available at Boots and Amazon
Source: Mirror
Leave a Reply