EXC: GBBO’s Laura Adlington candidly discusses her body image struggles

Laura Adlington spoke candidly about her body image struggles during an exclusive interview with MailOnline at the Bake Off Musical press night.

The Great British Bake Off alum, 33, regularly promotes body positivity and plus size fashion on social media, having been crowned runner-up in the 2020 series.

But on Monday she admitted that sometimes it can be “so hard” to love yourself when “the world doesn’t love you” if you have a “bigger body,” especially in a “world full of Kardashians.”

The influencer said: “I think for me, like growing up, I never saw anyone who looked like me on TV or magazines or whatever unless they were made fun of and I always felt like a real outsider.”

‘After the Bake Off, I got all these messages from women saying. “It’s really refreshing to see an older woman on TV, especially around food,” and I realized she wasn’t alone.

“I think sometimes it’s really hard to love yourself when the world doesn’t love you and the world isn’t always kind to you if you’re in a bigger body.

“So I do what I do to help other people feel a little better about themselves in a world full of Kardashians.

“I just don’t want to waste my life worrying that I don’t look like a Kardashian because I could be dead tomorrow and life is for living.”

Laura also raved about the West End musical, based on the baking contest of the same name, which recently opened at the Noël Coward Theatre.

When asked why she wanted to come to the show, she said, “Bake Off has really changed my life so that’s it and I’m also a huge musical theater fan.”

“I have been my whole life, it’s my favorite thing in the world, so I had to be here tonight.”

Laura recently posted an inspiring video about her body in which she admitted that she doesn’t always love it, but rather accept it and not let it hold her back.

The reality TV star posed in a black swimsuit and bikini in the pictures taken on a beach, smiling and looking carefree as she posed for close-up selfies.

Role model: The Great British Bake Off alum, 33, regularly promotes body positivity and plus size fashion on social media, having been crowned a finalist in the 2020 series

Touching: But on Monday she admitted that sometimes it can be “so hard” to love herself when “the world doesn’t love you” if you’re in a “bigger body”

With audio from author and yoga teacher Jessamyn Stanley, the clip read: “I don’t think everyone loves their body all the time.”

The voice added: ‘I think it’s always a wraith. Some days you feel great about your body.

‘Some days you really hate it. But every day it’s there and the acceptance and the freedom that comes from acceptance rests on that day when you can say ‘hey, this is what I look like’ and I’m fine with that.

Laura captioned her post: ‘I don’t think it’s always realistic to love your body. Accepting it and not letting it hold you back is where it’s at…at least for me.

‘Thank you for these words of wisdom @mynameisjessamyn’.

It comes after Laura showed off her curves in a black swimsuit while taking a dip in the sea, while encouraging fans who were nervous about showing off their bodies on vacation to ‘wear the damn bikini’.

Alongside the image, he wrote: “There is something about being at sea that makes me feel at peace.” It is where my body feels most at home.

‘After being under the weather for what seems like forever, I finally feel like myself again! My goal for this vacation is to swim, sunbathe, and relax.

‘Oh, and of course, put on the damn bikini!’

She received support from her Bake Off co-star Rahul Mandal, who commented below the post, “Enjoy your vacation, you look beautiful ×××.”

Laura’s post suggested that she had been feeling under the weather over the festive period, but revealed that she was “feeling more like herself” now.

Confidence: She said: “I just don’t want to waste my life worrying that I don’t look like a Kardashian because I could be dead tomorrow and life is for living” (pictured by GGBO in 2020)