* YOU BEEN SNAP* The Only Way Is Essex star Gemma Collins proudly shows off her 17 stone body in daring nude photoshoot"

BY FLORA LYIMO DESIGNER* 
She's only been in The Only Way Is Essex for a matter of weeks but Gemma Collins is already making the most of her new-found fame.
The blonde car saleswoman decided to show off her curves in a daring nude photoshoot for heat magazine after declaring she loves her size 20 body.
And Gemma she is proud to be a role model for bigger women through her inclusion on the hit ITV2 reality show.

Daring: The Only Way Is Essex star Gemma Collins poses nude for a new photoshoot and insists she is proud of her curvy body

She told heat magazine: 'If I had to walk down a catwalk next to Kate Moss, I would. As long as I could have a tan and heels, it’d be absolutely fine!

The full interview appears in this week's heat

'I’m not perfect, but I am confident and I feel beautiful. I’m a size 18-20 and almost 17 stone, so I’m doing it for us bigger girls.'

  

Gemma added that she has learned to be confident about her body.
She added: 'Some people are like, “Gemma, why don’t you get the weight off?” and I say, “Cos I feel sexy!”
'The day I feel gross is the day I’ll do something about it. But I don’t. I love my boobs, and I’ve got a little waist.
'My hips are a little bit fat, but you’ve got to shake what your mama gave you!'
Gemma also revealed she is naturally overweight, and doesn't maintain her curvy figure through eating all the time.
She added: 'Skinny is not something I strive to be. It’s lovely to be slim if you are slim, but if you’re not, you’re not!
'I think people assume bigger people eat all day, but I don’t at all.
'Yesterday I had two Weetabix, monkfish and mash, a bit of my friend’s birthday cake, and nothing else.'
Gemma has already been causing a stir on The Only Way Is Essex, and was seen trying to hit it off with Kirk Norcross' dad Mick during one episode of the show.
However, Mick, who co-owns the Sugar Hut nightclub with his son, appeared to be more taken with Chloe Sims and her surgically-enhanced figure.
In the most recent episode of The Only Way Is Essex, Gemma was seen hosting a charity pub quiz with stars Amy Childs, Mark Wright, Sam Faiers, Lauren Goodger and Harry Derbidge all taking part.
The full interview with Gemma appears in this week's issue of heat magazine, out now.

Screen star: Gemma gets a massage from Amy Childs in one episode of The Only Way Is Essex.