‘I’ve continued to foster through the pandemic but its been a very tough year’, Fabulous’ Mum of the Year 2020 reveals
In January we launched Fabulous’ Mum of the Year competition for the third time and, after an undoubtedly testing time for so many, we received over four thousand entries.
From homeschooling kids of all ages and abilities, to going above and beyond helping those in need during lockdown, every mum nominated astounded us.
Now, as a shortlist is compiled for our celebrity judges - Kate Garraway, Giovanna Fletcher, Kate Ferdinand and Ranvir Singh - to choose an exceptional mum, we caught up with last year’s winner.
Jemma Lee Johnson, 57, is retired and lives in Canvey Island with husband Stuart, also 57. She was nominated by daughter Sammy Jay, 30.
Before she retired, Jemma had worked for the NHS for over 22 years, raised five kids as a single mum and for 14 years has fostered 16-18 year olds.
“It was incredible winning Fabulous’ Mum of the Year in 2020, my photoshoot and makeover was a lovely day but it turned out to be my last day out in a year due to the lockdown,” she says.
“Whoever wins this year is likely to be an incredibly strong woman after all, 2020 has been so hard for so many, and there’s no doubt they’ll deserve some pampering too."
The prize for of this year's amazing mum is an overnight stay for two at a Champneys spa of her choice complete with a Gold package, which includes four relaxing treatments for the ultimate pampering experience.
Two runners-up will Champneys goodie bag worth £50 plus a £100 M&S voucher and £200 Nutmeg at Morrisons voucher, and all three mums will enjoy a makeover with our glam squad before taking part in a photo shoot for the magazine.
“Taking home the title last year couldn’t have come at a better time for me,” Jemma adds.
“I’d been feeling low after an injury meant I had to take early retirement from my NHS job with the ambulance service driving elderly people to hospital appointments so it gave me a little boost.”
Jemma, sadly, has been unable to enjoy her luxurious Champneys break but has it booked for July.
“I cannot wait,” she says. “This year has been so tough and I’ve really struggled with my anxiety so it’ll be lovely to go somewhere that isn’t my home.
“I’m looking forward to enjoying a bit of pampering and some quality time with Sammy, who nominated me - she’s also a mum of three and deserves a break too!”
Like so many of the mums nominated in this year’s competition, Jemma has found the past 12 months challenging but has continued to foster young people and support her children and grandkids when she can.
Also, just before the first lockdown she reconnected with her biological father, who she had never met, and also discovered she had a half brother and sister. Sadly, she hasn't been able to spend time with them.
“Meeting them was amazing and overwhelming - I showed them all the lovely photos from my Mum of the Year shoot - but not being able to meet face-to-face has been hard. We’ve spent hours on FaceTime and texting one another.”
THE JUDGES
Kate Garraway, 53
The GMB presenter is mum to Darcey, 13, and Billy, 11.
Giovanna Fletcher, 35
The bestselling author and podcast host won I’m A Celebrity! and is mum to Buzz, six, Buddy, four, and Max, two.
Kate Ferdinand, 29
The fitness guru gave birth to son Cree in December and is stepmum to Lorenz, 14, Tate, 12, and Tia, nine.
Ranvir Singh, 43
The Strictly star is mum to eight-year-old Tushaan.
Christmas was also a challenging time as Jemma’s mum passed away on 19th December and after years of having her, as well as all her kids and grandchildren at home creating a festive ‘madhouse’, it was a sombre affair.
“We had a Christmas lunch as I still have a young person living with me but it wasn’t like previous years.”
Jemma and husband Stuart began fostering 16-18 year olds shortly after they got married through a scheme called Supported Lodgings.
"In the last couple of years, I’ve been looking after a lot of young asylum seekers from countries such as Syria, Afghanistan, Eritrea and Nigeria, and it’s lovely because they’re so happy to be here.
“They’ve all experienced trauma, but they just want to begin a new life and we wanted to give them the support they need at that age,” Jemma told Fabulous.
There have been challenges with fostering teenagers but this year has been difficult but in a different way
Jemma Lee Johnson
“They tend to be left to fend for themselves after leaving care at 16, so they aren’t armed with many life skills, like being able to cook, clean, budget or apply for jobs.
“Over the years, we’ve looked after eight teenagers long-term, with several more for shorter-term placements, and some have become part of the family.
"Of course, there have been challenges and this year has been difficult but in a different way.
"My young person is so isolated due to the lockdown and can’t go out, so he’s not really learning the language or gaining many life skills, but we’ve been there to support him, help with his college work and prepare him for life here anyway we can."
“I feel for all the mums and parents out there at the moment,” Jemma adds.
“I can’t imagine being trapped inside with my five children and trying to work and homeschool - it must be so difficult.
“My escape this year has been with the two dogs I rescued. I go out walking to clear my head.
“I think the best thing for anyone at this time is to take one day at a time - grit your teeth and take on today.
“Good luck to all the nominated mums too... you are all amazing in my eyes!”
Most read in Fabulous
Read Jemma's full story and see all the incredible mums from 2020's competition here.
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