Ace, Stace!
Secret smoking, ‘crumbling teeth’ and wig secrets – why Stacey Solomon is the ultimate down-to-earth star
The star has also shared her top DIY tips and tricks - including how to make a stunning mirror using a bargain buy from Ikea
STACEY Solomon first won over the hearts of the nation when she nervously walked onto The X Factor stage and sang her heart out in front of the celebrity judges aged just 19.
Fifteen years on, the mum-of-five has become quite the national treasure - and for good reason.
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Despite being worth a cool £5million thanks to book, TV and affiliate deals, it turns out the humble 34-year-old has a lot in common with many of us.
While social media can often give a warped view of reality, Stacey, who was crowned I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! winner in 2010, isn't afraid to document her own struggles - including damaged hair, difficulty maintaining body hair and 'crumbling' teeth.
Along with her sharing money-saving DIY tips and tricks, and launching her own affordable homeware range with Asda, with prices starting from just £1, it's easy to see how she's fast become one of the country's most relatable stars...
Wig secrets
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From years of bleach to using too much heat, many of us have experienced damaged or broken hair - and Stacey is no different.
In 2018, at just 29, the telly favourite revealed she had resorted to wearing wigs to hide her broken hair.
She told The Sun at the time how she splashed out a whopping £1,000 on "Suze", the wig she used to conceal her grey locks and wispy ends.
"My ends are bleached within an inch of their lives so I look like I have zebra hair that fades into yellow noodles," she said.
"Also, I have very thick, coarse Jewish hair so washing and leaving it is not an option."
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However, the Sort Your Life Out host has since told how she's managed to transform her hair over the years, and has raved about small business, Rehab.
She even went so far as to say the hair-care brand's Dose 1.0 Hair Oil Capsules, which cost £26, are "the best things I've ever used on my hair".
In fact, Stacey was so impressed she invested in the company herself.
She told fans: “A huge moment In my life.
Stacey Solomon shows off her figure as she models swimsuits - and thrilled husband Joe Swash gives his approval
"So…I have decided for the first time in my entire career to invest my own money into a small business and become a third of Rehab - It doesn’t feel real.
"Growing up investing in a small business is never something in my life I thought I’d have the chance to be able to do! I feel like I’m writing this about someone else."
Crumbling teeth
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The Loose Women star, who has sons Zachary, 15 and Leighton, 11, from previous relationships, and Rex, four, Rose, two and one-year-old Belle with husband Joe Swash, previously opened up about how her teeth turned yellow and brown before falling out when she was pregnant with her second son.
After being left embarrassed and in pain, she had no choice but to opt for replacements, telling Fabulous: “I have veneers and my real teeth underneath are like brown pegs.
“The truth is, though, I would never have opted for veneers. I loved my old teeth and am not a fan of changing myself in any way.
“In the first few months of my second pregnancy I was seeing the dentist more than my midwife. I endured problem after problem.”
Stacey went on to note that prior to her pregnancy, she'd never even had a filling, but everything changed when she was expecting her second child.
“I couldn’t eat anything too hot or cold because it was excruciating and even breathing in cold air through my mouth was agony," she continued.
I have veneers and my real teeth underneath are like brown pegs
Stacey Solomon
“If it was cold outside, which is is 99.9 per cent of the time in England, I couldn’t even talk when I was outside, they were so sensitive.
“Whatever was going on with me decided to settle around four months into my pregnancy, but I was left with brown, decayed teeth and, for the first time ever, I felt really down about my smile.”
The mum-of-five was told by her dentist that she couldn't have veneers because her teeth were too weak to be shaving down.
Instead, he advised she opt for Lumineers which are placed over the existing teeth.
“Even though the Lumineers were only a millimetre or two thick that makes a huge difference on top of your own teeth," she said.
Pregnancy and tooth loss
According to the NHS, hormonal changes during pregnancy can affect the teeth and gums.
Calcium loss can also occur during pregnancy and breastfeeding due to the baby having an increased need for calcium - which is drawn from the mother's bones.
For some women, they're gums can be prone to swelling and may bleed during pregnancy. This is usually due to a build up of plaque, as a change in hormones while expecting can make gums and teeth more vulnerable.
Ways to keep teeth and gums healthy while pregnant
It's important to keep both teeth and gums clean and healthy while pregnant. The best ways to do so are:
- Clean teeth carefully twice a day for at least 2 minutes
- Floss once a day to help prevent plaque build-up
- Avoid regularly having sugary drinks and sugary foods
- Avoid mouthwashes that contain alcohol.
- Don't smoke
- Rinse with salt daily to help reduce gum inflammation
“After the long and extremely painful procedure (I had no anaesthetic because I was pregnant and I didn’t want it) I remember looking in the mirror and thinking: 'Those aren’t my teeth.'
“They were bulbous and whiter than white. Not only that, they felt weird. I struggled to close my mouth properly and was worried that a tooth might ping out of my mouth at any moment.”
After being trolled for having "Simon Cowell teeth", the down-to-earth TV favourite returned to the dentist and had the Lumineers replaced, which she says were “so much better” this time round.
Secret smoking
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Whether it's a bar of chocolate or glass of wine, we've all got a guilty pleasure we enjoy when we have a moment of downtime - and for the former singer, her go-to is a sneaky cigarette.
As smoking is still the biggest cause of cancer, with tobacco killing one person every five minutes in the UK, fans of the star were shocked when she was recently spotted puffing on a cigarette as she enjoyed a day out in north London with husband Joe Swash and their children.
The 34-year-old, who has smoked for over ten years, doesn't often speak about her unhealthy habit.
But, when appearing on This Morning back in 2012, she broke down and revealed how guilty she felt about continuing to smoke during her pregnancy.
Despite cutting down from her 10 a day habit, she said: "At the end of the day, nothing that I can say makes it right.
"All I can say is that from the day I found out that I was pregnant, I have tried my best to give up. I completely understand why people would be angry, because for some people it's incomprehensible.
"As soon as you get pregnant, you think you need so stop. I did smoke between 5 and 10 a day, but I completely cut down and from there on I have been trying to stop."
She continued: "I'm smoking between one and three a day, if that... I just thought I would be able to quit. And some days I've done really, really well and had none but there are some days when I have had some.
"I'm doing my best to just go without, but sometimes it's not just as easy to cut it out."
WHERE TO GET HELP TO QUIT SMOKING
For anyone looking to stop smoking for good, there are several local stop smoking services available that can help - and they're totally free.
Staffed by expert advisers, these services offer a range of proven methods to help you quit, along with accurate information and advice, and professional support.
Not only that, but they also make it easy and affordable for you to gain access to stop smoking treatments, such as nicotine replacement therapy or bupropion (Zyban).
You'll normally be offered a one-to-one appointment with an adviser, but several areas also offer group and drop-in services as well.
According to Jennifer Percival, who trains stop smoking advisers, using both treatment and specialist support is proven to give you the best chance of stopping smoking.
"The majority of people who see an adviser will get through the first month after quitting without smoking a cigarette," she says.
"Overall, you're up to 3 times more likely to stop smoking for good if you use a combination of stop smoking treatment and receive support from an NHS Stop Smoking Service."
How to contact a stop smoking adviser
You can be referred by your GP, pharmacist or health visitor or you can phone your local stop smoking service to make an appointment with an adviser.
England - call the free Smokefree National Helpline on 0300 123 1044
Scotland - call the free Quit Your Way Scotland helpline on 0800 84 84 84
Wales - call the free Help Me Quit helpline on 0800 085 2219
Northern Ireland - call a provider in the town or city where you live (telephone numbers can be found on the Stop Smoking NI website)
Credit: NHS
Affordable DIYs
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Despite being a multi-millionaire, the former X Factor star loves to save herself some cash wherever she can, all while putting her creativity to good use.
Instead of forking out on pricey mirrors, which can cost hundreds, the DIY Queen sent social media users into meltdown after detailing how she made her own for just £30 - using a bargain frame from Ikea.
The savvy mum explained how she snapped up nine black frames and nine panel mirrors for her DIY project, which cost her just £1.25 and £1 respectively.
She then simply used command strips, a spirit level, a tape measure and a pencil to hang them up.
Delighted with her handiwork, she shared a photo online and enthused: "I can't tell you how happy this is making me. I can't believe it. For £30 I'm sooooo happy!"
And while many of us throw away old perfume bottles and glass jars without a second thought, thrifty Stacey has other ideas.
Using a tin of paint, twine and tape, she revealed how you can easily transform them into expensive-looking vases.
Taking to Instagram, she explained how she kept hold of an empty bottle of Chanel No.5 which was a sentimental gift she received.
"I'm going to try and turn this perfume I got for my 25th birthday that I've hoarded for five years into a vase," she wrote.
"I love what it looks like and it's so special to me I didn't ever want to get rid of it but it's dirty and the last drop of perfume is stale so it needs a make up."
Embracing body hair
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Whether it's our height, body shape or hair colour, we all have our own hidden insecurities - and for Stacey, that used to be her body hair.
Despite struggling to maintain a hairless appearance during puberty, the mum-of-five, who believes she gets her "full hairy gene" from her Burmese grandfather, has since told how she's now learned to embrace her body fuzz.
Writing in a previous Fabulous column, the star, who says her school friends used to call her "furry," wrote: "So to all the women who think waxing, shaving and grooming is the bane of their life and wish they didn’t have to do it – you really DON’T. You really, really don’t.
I’m not ashamed of my body hair, people being disgusted by it is ridiculous because it’s obviously meant to be there! When did people start getting offended by it?
Stacey
"And if people don’t like you because you have normal body hair on your legs, they’re not worth knowing."
And Stacey isn't afraid to hit back at the haters either...
In one snap shared to Instagram, she posted a photo of her hand to show off her new manicure and, after being flooded with mean comments about her arm fuzz, responded: "I love my hairy arms."
"Truth be told, I save an absolute fortune on thermals in winter thanks to these bad boys. Hail the hair!"
Speaking to The Sun’s Fabulous magazine, Stacey said: "I actually don’t see hairy anything on women these days. So when people are seeing a tiny bit of hair they’re like, 'What the hell? She’s a monster!'
"I’m not ashamed of my body hair, people being disgusted by it is ridiculous because it’s obviously meant to be there! When did people start getting offended by it?"
Budget friendly In The Style clothing range
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"Can't wait for your In The Style collection to drop" was just one of the comments from thousands of fashion fans who eagerly awaited the launch of Stacey's new and affordable spring collection with the online retailer.
All items from collection, which dropped last Sunday, are available in petite and tall, and includes a range of UK sizes from 6-28.
And much to the delight of her fans, every piece from the collection, which includes swimwear and spring dresses, is priced at a very reasonable £38 or less.
The I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! winner wrote: "You lot always ask me about the price range and I always fight with Adam and everyone at In The Style over the price range.
"They hate me but I'm really excited and proud to say that everything in the collection is 38 pounds and under which I'm really proud of.
"The materials are really high quality and try use as sustainable fabrics as possible."
The mum, who wears size 10 in everything, also told how one of her pieces is breastfeeding friendly.
In response to one social media who asked if any of the garments were suitable for new mums, Stacey rocked a stripey green floating dress and added: "Wear whatever the hell you want, you are doing the most incredible job in the world."
Asda decor range
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When it comes to homeware, it's all too easy to spend a small fortune.
But Stacey has given the people what they really want...a stylish spring range from Asda which offers both style and affordability.
And with prices starting from just £1, such as the Lilac Popcorn Textured Towel Range, it's little surprise the former reality star is a fan favourite.
Read more on the Irish Sun
In a clip shared by the official Asda TikTok page, they posted a glimpse at some of the 127-piece collection on offer, which covers everything from bits for your bathroom and bedroom to living room.
Many of the items have been inspired by Stacey's home, sweetly named Pickle Cottage, with the likes of the £6'Cream Shell Soap Dispenser and £12 Green Mini Ruffle Stripe Duvet Set proving a hit.