I’m A Celebrity winner Georgia Toffolo reveals she overcame a string of obstacles in the jungle… from boob anxiety to extreme hunger
I’M A Celebrity queen Georgia Toffolo revealed she overcame a string of obstacles to win — including boobs anxiety, extreme hunger and a confidence-sapping skin condition.
The Made in Chelsea star, 23, also recently split up with her boyfriend when entering the camp — with thoughts of him dominating her first few days.
But “Toff”, 23, says she has no interest in starting another relationship — preferring instead to focus on her fledgling TV career.
She told The Sun in her only newspaper interview after being crowned series winner: “This is my time to concentrate on me and my career and not boys.
“I’m still young and, while I 100 per cent want to get married and have kids one day, I’ve got plenty of time.
"My love life has had a tough year, but winning I’m A Celeb has been good for my self-esteem.”
Nearly ten million viewers saw Devon-born Toff beat soap hunk Jamie Lomas, 42, and talkRADIO host Iain Lee, 44, in Sunday’s final.
The relative unknown, also the lowest-paid contestant, was a huge hit thanks to her cheeky grin and positive attitude.
But Toff said she felt sad early on after splitting from James Middleton.
She explained: “I thought about James a lot in the beginning because we had only just broken up. The timing was off. It was sad.
“I have so much respect for him because our split was tough on him.
“He didn’t sign up to being spoken about on TV in front of 12 million people as he’s fiercely private.
“I’m very shocked and touched he supported me.
"I can’t imagine doing the same thing if it was the other way around.”
Toff also won fans courtesy of her shower scenes — but she told how she smuggled in padding, known as chicken fillets, to boost her boobs.
She then lost 4kg in weight — as well as one of the fillets.
She said: “I felt really skinny.
“I had small boobies anyway and I looked down and I was completely flat. I took in chicken fillets in my bra, but I accidentally lay on one and burst it.
"So I had one booby with a chicken fillet and one without, so I had to sacrifice them.
"I’ve just had to embrace my small boobies.
“I doubt I would ever get a boob job when I can buy chicken fillets. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
Her limbs were also bronzed thanks to her luxury item of fake tan, but viewers noted that Toff was wearing make-up, which is banned.
She said that her spotty skin was the reason, admitting: “I honestly wouldn’t have been able to look any of my campmates in the eye if I didn’t have my make-up on.
“When producers told me it was banned I broke down in tears and said, ‘I can’t do this’.
“I’ve been to the doctors so much over the years. It’s a medical problem and I’ve been on strong tablets for six months trying to get rid of them.
“So show bosses agreed that, because it was a medical problem, I was allowed to put foundation on once a day in the morning.
“I wish I could walk around with no make-up on but I have big angry red marks all down the side of my cheeks.
"Some people don’t understand how badly it affects my confidence and upsets me.”
But incredibly Toff’s jungle diet, mainly rice and beans, and clean living has cleared it up.
She said: “Being in the jungle has been amazing for my skin. I think it must be something I’m eating. I’m going to have allergy tests.”
She also revealed she almost quit after ten days — in scenes not aired on the ITV show — because she felt weak with hunger.
She said: “I said to Medic Bob, ‘I can’t carry on.’ I remember trying to do my hair in plaits and I couldn’t even lift my arms up. I thought I would have to leave.
“I didn’t get any extra food or drink. Medic Bob just said, ‘Come on Toff, it’s hit you first because you’re the smallest. Be strong.’
“He gave me the best pep talk, I had a tear rolling down my cheek.
"He talked me off the edge and I was all right.
"I had to distract myself with the Bushtucker Trials.”
Toff’s determination to succeed caused her only disagreement in camp — when she questioned why the macho men wanted to hog all the trials.
She said: “I am quite small, but it doesn’t mean I’m any less.
“Muscles are fantastic and to have them is amazing, but it’s not the be all and end all.
“I think I’ve been completely underestimated in the past because of my blonde hair.
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"People put me in this ditzy, posh and stuck-up category, so it’s been nice the public have been able to see the real me.”
She now wants to emulate last year’s winner Scarlett Moffatt, 27, who is now a familiar face on prime-time TV.
She said: “It was such an honour to have Scarlett rooting for me. I can’t believe she even knows my name. I would love to mirror her career.”
Toff talk about her chums in the camp
Stanley Johnson
I was completely and utterly enamoured by him, I knew who he was straight away.
He taught me all about environmental conservation and female genitalia mutilation, as a young woman I should be paying more attention to the issue.
I’ve got to use this experience to do good and I think Stanley would help.
It felt like having a university professor at our disposal, we didn’t google things we just asked Stanley.
His demeanour was extraordinary, we would look at each other across camp and have a little giggle.
I’m so close to my own grandfather and I found refuge in Stanley.
I would love to go around to his for Sunday lunch with Boris Johnson.
Vanessa White
She is a beautiful person inside and out and we shared great conversations.
We’re going to go out loads when we’re back in London.
She really educated me about healthy eating, as I really lose my way with eating - I’m terrible.
She works out all the time.
Rebekah Vardy
I’ve never met anyone so straight talking. What you see is what you get.
It’s very rare to find someone who is that transparent as there is a lot of fakeness around in the showbiz industry.
She’ll tell you if she is p***** off and I really respect that.
Jennie McAlpine
She’s such a wonderful woman. The standout moment that anyone said to me was, “If I had a daughter like you I would be so proud.’
It meant so much to me coming from her.
She is so humble, she is the biggest soap actress, but acts like a normal girl.
Amir Khan
He just walked around in a constant state of bewilderment and surprise.
I think he grew up in a boxing bubble. There wasn’t much else going on.
He was hilarious, he makes me cry with laughter. His dedication to boxing is fascinating, it’s so far removed from my life.
He was very fun, especially when there were periods of silence.
I was livid with him after the first trial. I couldn’t believe he had cried, ‘I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here’.
I’d been buried under ground with critters for nothing, he just didn’t understand at that point.
Dennis Wise
He is a real family man and it was lovely to get to know him.
I didn’t know what he did because I was from a different generation.
I go to the rugby and I’ve never been to a football match, I would love it if he took me to my first ever football match, especially as he is a Chelsea season ticket holder.
Jamie Lomas
He looked after me so much. He was a good looking guy, but he’s 20 years older than me.
I must say I did forget he was 20 years older than me, I would put him in my age category.
We laughed so much, he is very funny. I would nearly wet myself as he made me laugh so much.
He also gave me a lot of advice on men, and told me to go for my career first.
Iain Lee
We got off to a bad start because he didn’t pick me to be in his team to begin with.
That’s when I was hungry and lost a lot of weight.
I finally got to know him as more people were voted out and he was teaching me all about presenting. He’s a clever guy.
Kezia Dugdale
I loved her. I didn’t know who she was before, but we got on so well.
I was worried that we wouldn’t because of our differing views.
We had the most wonderful chats about politics.
She was very imaginative to invent the rice and bean patty, they were delicious.
Shappi Khorsandi
She was lovely and it felt like she went too soon.
We had differing views politically, she admitted, ‘I didn’t think I would get on with you’ so I was pleased that we did.