GBBO winner Candice Brown may look like a sassy miss, but behind the smiles and the lipstick the baking beauty has been hiding a secret – she has low self esteem.
And winning the show, she says, has totally changed her life and has given her a much needed boost of self confidence.
The lippy-loving Victoria Beckham-alike says that after years of self doubt and insecurities, her spectacular win over her baking rivals Andrew Smyth and Jane Beedle, has made her feel like she invincible.
“When they said my name, that means more to me than anyone will ever realise,” she gushed, after millions of viewers saw take the title after producing a bevvy of tasty delights including an impressive three-tiered pavlova and “an absolute humdinger of a showstopper” of a 49-piece royal picnic.
“I have low self belief, even though my friends and family constantly build my confidence up. So it was a big moment in my life, probably the biggest so far. I felt that everything happens for a reason, and I did it, and that makes me smile so much. In fact, I can’t stop smiling.”
Even though she had made it to the final of the series, Candice says that when her name was called out she was totally gob-smacked.
“When they announced the winner, I almost didn’t hear it, and was in complete and utter disbelief,” she recalled.
“I was aware of it but I couldn’t take it in. Mary and Paul came over and I thought my knees would give way, I was trembling so much.”
She added: “One of the biggest moments for me was when Mary gave me the bouquet of flowers, and Paul handed me the trophy, and Paul said to me ‘take it, it’s yours’ and then I cried, I was in shock but totally elated.”
So what next for Candice? Well, already the 31-year old PE teacher, 31, is tipped to cash in from endorsements in the coming year and has already set her sights on owning her own tea shop which GBBO fans can flock to, as well as looking forward to book deals and TV work.
Last year’s winner Nadiya Hussain has gone on to writing books, presenting TV shows including Loose Women and appearing in the pages of Hello magazine.
John Whaite, who won the show in 2102, has published several best selling books, has a regular slot on Lorraine, has appeared on the cover of Attitude magazine and has recently opened his own cooking school.
But Candice says that life isn’t going to change for her and she is more than happy to stick to her old fashioned pre-GBBO life and her boyfriend Liam, who viewers watched breakdown in tears when she was announced winner.
“I would prefer a quiet night in the pub than going uptown in lipstick and heels,’ she told The Mirror.
“I like getting glammed up, but give me a pub with a pint of cider, a packet of pork scratchings and a sticky carpet with the family watching the rugby any day. Having a laugh with them is more important to me.”
Well, Candice, keep baking, keep wearing that lippy and keep your feet on the ground. Congrats from all of us at Entertainment Daily and if you fancy sending us a cake, you know where we are!