Loose Women host Andrea McLean has spoken about the scars on her body from having children and surgery.
“The first time I got undressed in front of Nick [Fenney, her partner] was really nerve-wracking because I was panicking about my stomach,” she said.
“In the end, I took off my clothes and said, ‘These are my scars and this is who I am.’
“Nick didn’t say a word, but he’s since admitted he was quite shocked as he’d never seen scars like mine before.”
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Andrea’s scars were a result of an emergency C-section when she had her son Finlay in 2001 and another C-section when she had her daughter in 2006. She also had surgery to correct an umbilical hernia, and then a hysterectomy last September.
The TV presenter was taking part in the Loose Women Body Stories campaign, in which she and eight other panellists, including Katie Price and Coleen Nolan, posed for a photoshoot wearing bikinis and swimming costumes. The photos were taken by Bryan Adams.
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“With this shoot I’m revealing my scars,” said Andrea, who looked stunning in the black and white pics. “It’s the first time and it has been weird.
“I hope people see the pictures for what they are; real women not edited or airbrushed, letting their body tell their story.
“Since the shoot my confidence has really increased.”
Andrea has previously spoken about the heartbreak of having a hysterectomy, and how it means she won’t be able to have kids with her partner.
“Me and Nick met later in life and both have our own children,” she said. The couple were set up on a blind date by her make-up artist.
“But I was sitting and looking at Nick and I was thinking how lucky I am and there was just this wave that we’ll never have children together.”