'I feel sexier than ever!' Loose Women's Andrea McLean poses for nude shoot after losing a stone on cabbage soup diet

By Sarah Bull

Last updated at 2:15 AM on 29th November 2011

She might be 42 years old but Loose Women star Andrea McLean has insisted she feels more body confident than ever before, and has proved it by posing for a sexy nude shoot.

The mother-of-two has shed her clothes for Closer magazine after losing a stone on a cabbage soup diet, taking her from a size 14 to a 10.

And now Andrea has embraced her figure and said that while she was nervous about stripping for the boudoir-style shoot, she was keen to show off her figure while she still can.

Body confident: Loose Women host Andrea McLean shows off her figure in a sexy nude shoot after losing a stone on a cabbage soup diet

She said: 'I feel a lot more body confident now than I did in my 30s. I think there’s something about hitting your 40s where you think, "The pressure’s off – I’m never going to look like Cindy Crawford, but I’m very happy to look like me." '

Andrea added: 'When posing like this was suggested, my instinct was to shy away. But I won’t have many more opportunities to do these kind of photos at my age, so I decided to go for it!

'I know life really is too short not to throw caution to the wind, so I’m going to enjoy it. One day it’ll be lovely to look back and say: ‘You were quite sexy once, Andrea!'

Sultry: The mother-of-two says she feels more confident about her body than ever now she is in her 40s

The full interview appears in this week's Closer

The Loose Women host also told Closer that it was a near-death experience in June which caused her to have a more positive outlook on life.

She explained that she fell unconscious in hospital following an allergic reaction to antibiotics after an operation to repair an umbilical hernia.

She said: 'I couldn’t breathe at all – it was like my air was slowly being cut off. It was absolutely terrifying, but the worst thing was seeing the panic on Steve’s face. I fell unconscious and yes, Steve believed he’d lost me.

'But, in the grand scheme of things, it was half an hour of absolute awfulness and, thankfully, they were able to control the reaction with adrenalin and oxygen.'

Andrea added that after having the operation stopped the pain she was in as well as boosting her self-esteem, as the hernia which she got after giving birth to daughter Amy five years ago had made her bloated and uncomfortable.

She said: 'The best thing is that I’m not in pain any more, but also I now have a flat stomach again, like it was before I had the kids. I’m no longer ashamed to take off my clothes in front of Steve. Of course he never minded – he loves me regardless – but having a bit of self-confidence does wonders…

'I had worried how my tummy would look, but it’s amazing. I now have a very neat T-shaped scar which runs across my lower abdomen like a Caesarean scar. You can hardly see it.'

The full interview with Andrea appears in this week's Closer magazine, out now.

Screen star: Andrea with Lisa Maxwell, Sherrie Hewson and former Loose Women star Jane McDonald on the hit ITV daytime show

Happy family: Andrea and husband Steve Toms with children Finlay and Amy

Well, she is a high roller: Amy Childs hits the ITV studios with her hair trussed up in curlers ready for her Loose Women chat

By Marcus Barnes

Last updated at 4:33 PM on 11th November 2011

She's a trained beautician so for Amy Childs her appearance is paramount.

Which is probably why the reality star made her way into the ITV studios in central London with her hair trussed with the aid of rollers.

Amy, who left TOWIE over the summer, sauntered into the studios with her hair up prior to her appearance on the channel's flagship daytime chat show Loose Women.

You've got to roll with it: Amy Childs saunters into the Loose Women studios with rollers in her hair as she prepares for her appearance on the ITV1 chat show

Ready for my close up: The TOWIE star obviously wanted to make sure she was looking her best before her appearance on the show

Wearing a long fur coat, a fitted beige suit and a pair of leopard print heels Amy had an air of Joan Collins' character Alexis Carrington from eighties soap Dynasty - though we can't imagine Amy being quite so bitchy.

The 21-year-old's unusual accessories pulled her hair back right off her face giving her a slightly severe look in comparison with her normally soft looking face.

During her appearance on the show, viewers noted that she looked like her former arch rival Katie Price.

Showboating: Amy was being filmed for her reality show for Channel 5 entitled All About Amy

Ultra glam: Amy looked great as she left the ITV studios following a concerted effort to look her best

Speaking on the ITV lunchtime show, the former TOWIE star said her busy schedule means she hasn't been able to watch the current series.

She said: 'I do watch it. I've been so busy with everything that's going on with me at the minute, but yeah, I'm trying to watch it as much as possible.

'I said to Harry, "For my Christmas present you've got to get me the TOWIE DVD and we'll watch it, we'll watch it together, so I can watch the whole thing through.'

And she added her old friend Mark Wright would definitely get up to his old tricks in the jungle.

'I think he's going to shock all of us, definitely. He's brilliant, I've always been a big fan of Mark. I think Mark will win, definitely.'

She added: 'I reckon he'll be having a bit of a cuddle in there, I don't know who with though, you never know with Mark…'

Just popping out for a bit: The former TOWIE star poses with Ultimo owner Michelle Mone at the launch of Tesco's new underwear range

Amy then confessed she still thinks the Essex lothario will get back with his ex, Lauren Goodger:
'He's a good looking boy, he's got all the girls around him. It's up to Mark what he wants to do, but I always say those two will get back together – Mark and Lauren.'
Amy went on to admit she doesn't see the rest of the TOWIE cast as much she would like, but hopes the gang will reunite soon for a big night out.
She said: 'I'm always with Harry. Sam and Billie I don't see a lot but I'm always speaking to them.
'But obviously because they're busy at the minute filming for TOWIE, I've been busy filming for my new TV show, but I'm sure we are all going to get together soon and have a good night out.'
On Twitter a number of observers remarked about her appearance on the lunchtime show.
A user named masssivecheeks tweeted: 'amy childs on loose women just reminded me of when katie price was on..'
While another, named laurenhudson_ also commented on the similarities between the two women: 'Watching amy childs on loose women, she's basically katie price!!'
She later exited the studios looking as glam as one might imagine following her concerted effort to make a good impression.

Glitz and glamour: Amy is the body of Tesco's new lingerie line

Amy, who is currently filming a new reality series for Channel 5 entitled All About Amy, has a penchant for appearing in public with rollers in her hair - a look that has its roots in Liverpool where women are often seen pounding the city centre with their rollers still in.

In July she was seen making her way into the This Morning studios with her hair still being curled, while during her appearance on Celebrity Big Brother she combined rollers with a bikini for an unorthodox look.

Earlier this week, Amy was the centre of attention at the launch of Tesco's underwear range, Bra Queen at The Century Club in central London, and it wasn't difficult to see why.

Good curl: Amy Childs arrives at London Studios to film her slot for This Morning

Is that safe? In true Amy Childs fashion, the star donned a purple bikini to do the washing up, not worrying about hot water splattering her

Looking stunning in a silver leopard print number embellished with a pink ribbon, Amy smiled as she posed alongside Bra Queen designer Michelle Mone OBE.

The redhead showed off her long legs with black PVC trousers, accentuated with towering black heels.

She tweeted when she arrived home: 'Had such a lovely night at the launch for Bra Queen for Tescos really honoured to be the faceof such a lovely underwear thanks @MichelleMone'

Her evening marked a significant milestone since her departure from the show which made her famous.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2060355/TOWIEs-Amy-Childs-hits-ITV-studios-hair-curlers-Loose-Women.html#ixzz1dRjZoIzJ