'I've put on a stone but I still feel beautiful': Liz McClarnon shows off her figure as she puts weight gain down to her new love

By Sarah Bull

Last updated at 12:01 AM on 26th July 2011

Posing in a swimsuit, Liz McClarnon looks confident, happy and healthy.

However, the former Atomic Kitten singer has revealed she has gained at least a stone after starting a new relationship with a man she refuses to identify.

Liz has gone from a size eight to around a 12, although she refuses to weigh herself, and says despite her new curves she still loves her body because her new man makes her feel beautiful.

Fuller figure: Liz McClarnon has posed in a swimming costume after revealing she has put on at least a stone thanks to her new relationship

She said: 'My boyfriend is really tall and I end up eating the same amount of food as him, so that’s why I’ve put on weight. I used to be a size 8 and now I’m probably a 12.

'But at least my boobs have grown and I really like them this size! They’re about a 34C/D and they shrink a cup size if I lose weight. Ideally, I’d like to be back to a size 10. I know I should exercise more, but it’s hard to find the time as I’m always so busy.'

'My boyfriend makes me feel beautiful and loves my body. I don’t mind walking around naked in front of him.'

'I feel beautiful': Former Atomic Kitten star Liz has gone from a size eight (right) to a twelve

'I feel beautiful': Former Atomic Kitten star Liz has gone from a size eight (right) to a 12

Liz, who has been dating her new man for the past eight months, admitted she started gaining weight through her love of food, stemming from winning Celebrity Masterchef in 2008.

And despite losing a stone in December 2010, taking her from a size 10 to an eight, Liz says the weight has slowly crept back on.

She said: 'I hate weighing myself and haven’t done so since I was 9st and a size 8 when I did the Closer diet.'

Liz is now keen to shed the weight, and has been discussing the best ways of slimming down with her friend Michelle Heaton, the singer turned personal trainer who recently revealed she is expecting her first child.

She said: 'I recently saw my mate Michelle and she looks amazing. I told her I have too many wobbly bits and don’t like my upper thighs or muffin top.

'She said if I wasn’t happy, I should cut out white carbs and substitute brown ones. So I’m going to eat sweet potatoes and brown rice, which she said would make me feel less sluggish.

'Fad diets don’t work for me. I’ve tried the no-carbs thing, but only lasted for three days. It’s just a case of eating sensibly and exercising.'

And while Liz looks incredible in the Closer magazine shoot, she told the publication she hates being called 'sexy'.

She laughed: 'When I was in Atomic Kitten, we had to stop doing the lads’ mags because I looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights in the photos! I’m not really a sexy person. I’m the girl next door and that’s how I like it.'

The full interview with Liz is in this week's Closer magazine, out now.