Frankie Essex says she’s put on two stone after horrific injury left her unable to exercise
FRANKIE Essex proudly revealed her curves in a pink bikini on the beach in Tenerife after telling pals she's put on two stone.
The former Towie star, 30, suffered a knee injury, leaving her unable to exercise, and admitted she felt down about the weight gain.
A pal exclusively told The Sun: "Frankie had a terrible year of not being able to exercise due to a knee injury.
"She still can’t exercise and is the biggest she has ever been. She’s put on 2 stone. It’s really getting her down but she has the all clear now and is determined to get back into great shape in 2019."
Despite her weight woes, she looked like she was having the time of her life on the volcanic island.
The reality star, who once said she didn't want to wear a bikini ever again, sipped a refreshing coconut cocktail on a sun lounger.
The star looked happy, after a holiday disaster in Spain last year left her feeling like she never wanted to wear a bikini again.
She told : "I had some comments about my bikini body - they were rude and really got me down, but I always come up fighting.
"In the heat of the moment I said I'd never wear a bikini again, but I finally feel confident again. I'm happy and healthy."
Frankie later embarked on a healthy-eating regime that saw her ditch ketchup and take up drinking green tea.
She told The Sun: "You have to eat clean - food without sauces.
"I used to love sauces, especially ketchup but I don't have it any more. It's full of sugar."
Frankie joined TOWIE as a background character in series two in 2011.
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At the age of just 13 Frankie's mum tragically killed herself.
Frankie and her brother Joey were raised by their father Donny following the tragedy.
In 2012 she dated John Lyons but their relationship was too tumultuous and violent to sustain, as the police were called to settle their fights on multiple occasions.
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