The former TOWIE star, often seen as larger-than-life on screen, has revealed that behind closed doors she has been going through what she describes as a deeply challenging chapter. Despite the public image of confidence and humour, she admits there are times when she has struggled with her mental wellbeing, her body image and the pressure of constantly being in the spotlight.

At the centre of her current hopes is one dream she has never stopped talking about – becoming a mum. Gemma has spoken openly about her desire to have a child for years, but now she has confirmed she is actively trying. However, she has also admitted that the process has not been going smoothly, describing it as an emotional rollercoaster with uncertainty still hanging over her future plans.

She is due to share more of this journey in a new television project set to air later this year, which will document the highs and lows of her attempt to start a family. But even she has acknowledged that things are not currently going the way she had hoped.

“I’m trying to have a baby, but let’s see. It’s not going very well at the minute,” she said, reflecting the honesty that has made her one of the most talked-about figures in British reality TV. She added that the experience will be shown on her upcoming programme, due to air in September on Sky, where viewers will see the more vulnerable side of her life away from the glamour.

Alongside her fertility journey, Gemma has also been dealing with the effects of perimenopause, something she has described as frustrating and disorientating. She has spoken candidly about struggling with her memory, saying her thoughts can feel scattered and unfamiliar, leaving her feeling unlike herself at times. Despite her typically upbeat persona, she has admitted that the changes have taken a toll on her confidence and sense of stability.

“I can’t remember nothing, it’s bizarre,” she previously told fans, explaining that it sometimes feels like she is not fully present in her own mind. It is a stark contrast to the confident, outspoken character viewers are used to seeing on television.

Away from her personal health struggles, Gemma’s home life has also been heavily affected by serious family concerns. Her mother, Joan, was recently hospitalised after suffering from pneumonia for the second time in six months. The illness has had a significant impact on her mobility, with Gemma revealing that her mum has lost strength and is now recovering slowly while living with her at home.

The situation has placed enormous pressure on Gemma, who has taken on much of the responsibility of caring for her parents while continuing to manage her own life and work commitments. She has admitted that her routine has been completely disrupted, with day-to-day self-care often taking a back seat as she focuses on her family’s wellbeing.

“My mum’s been very unwell,” she said, explaining that her parents are now living with her and she is helping her mother try to regain her strength and ability to walk again. She described the experience as overwhelming but insisted she would not change her commitment to looking after her family.

The emotional strain has also affected her lifestyle habits, with Gemma admitting she has been relying on takeaways more than usual and struggling to maintain a sense of balance. She said it is a reminder that even strong routines can fall apart when life becomes difficult.

Despite everything, Gemma has remained open about her long-standing struggles with weight and body image. She has previously revealed that she has turned down offers from TV producers who were willing to pay her to lose weight, saying she would not take part in anything that felt unrealistic or unsustainable for her personally. She has also declined offers of surgery, insisting that she wants to stay true to herself rather than change for commercial gain.

Her honesty extends to more sensitive areas of her past, where she has spoken about her mental health and experiences of self-harm, acknowledging that she has been through difficult periods in her life. She has described the internal battle between confidence and insecurity, saying that even when she appears strong on the outside, there are times when she struggles with self-doubt and negative thoughts.

At the same time, she often credits her mother Joan as her biggest influence and source of strength. She has spoken movingly about growing up watching her mum make sacrifices to provide for the family, sometimes going without basic comforts to ensure her children were looked after. Those memories, she says, have stayed with her and shaped the way she views success and family responsibility.

Gemma has also reflected on how her mother played a major role in encouraging her to enter show business in the first place, after she was approached by producers while working in a car showroom. Her early television career on The Only Way Is Essex was something she now sees as both a personal opportunity and a shared family achievement.

Over the years, her life has taken her from car sales floors to red carpets and even royal events. She once met King Charles III and Queen Camilla at a royal engagement, an experience she described as surreal and almost unbelievable, saying it felt like one of those moments where she had to stop and ask herself how she ended up there.

But despite the extraordinary moments, Gemma insists that her happiest times are now found away from the spotlight. She has embraced a quieter countryside lifestyle, living with her fiancé Rami Hawash, his son, and a growing number of animals at home. She describes a routine that is far removed from her TV persona – cooking, cleaning, looking after chickens, and enjoying simple family life.

She says those everyday moments, like making tea, doing the washing up, or being greeted by her dogs at the door, are what now ground her. She has even spoken fondly about collecting eggs from her chickens and sharing them with visitors, embracing a more peaceful and domestic existence.

Still, life has not been without further difficult headlines around those in her wider circle, with actress Ruby Rose recently making news after suffering injuries in a pool accident, a reminder of how quickly circumstances can change for public figures and those connected to the entertainment world.

For Gemma, however, the focus remains firmly on her family, her health, and her hope of building the future she has long dreamed about. While she continues to face setbacks and emotional strain, she has made it clear she is determined to keep going, balancing vulnerability with resilience in a life that continues to unfold very much in the public eye.