Gemma Atkinson reveals she was targeted by cruel body shamers after giving birth as she poses in a sexy red swimsuit for Women’s Health UK

Gemma Atkinson revealed how she deals with body shaming as she posed in a very sexy red swimsuit on the cover of Women’s Health Britain on Friday.

The host explained that some people asked her why she didn’t get back into shape faster after welcoming her second child with fiancé Gorka Marquez.

Gemma, 40, shares daughter Mia, five, and son Thiago, 17, with the Strictly Come Dancing professional, 34, for months.

She said she has her own way of dealing with online trolls as she posed in a number of sports bras and shorts and showed off her toned abs for the photoshoot.

Gemma said: ‘A few people messaged and said, “I thought you’d get in shape quicker; you are so excited about your training; I’m surprised it took you ten months.”

“My mother always said – well, she still says to me – if someone doesn’t know you personally, why take what they say personally? Even when someone says something nice, it’s so nice, but you can’t accept it because you’re walking around with a swollen head.”

For her cover shoot, Gemma looked amazing in the one-shoulder swimsuit with a daring cutout at the waist that exposed her toned midriff.

Gemma, who said she is ’embracing aging as best I can’, styled her long blonde locks in a neat braid and placed her hands on her hips as she posed for the cover.

In a second shot, the radio host rocked a black sports bra and matching pants as she lay on the floor.

The mother-of-two put on a leggy show in red cycling shorts and a matching sports bra as she posed with a black leather jacket hanging over her shoulders.

For the final two looks, Gemma wore white sportswear with colorful jackets as she posed with a large white medicine ball in her hand.

Elsewhere in the interview, the star said there is ‘no point in fighting ageing’ and that she feels ‘fitter and stronger’ than ever before.

Gemma also started returning to training at her own pace after welcoming son Thiago via caesarean section in July 2023.

She said: ‘I kept saying to myself, ‘You’ve been cut open – through about seven layers [of tissue]Yes? Let that heal before you do anything.” So I focused a lot on nutrition… And after about 13 or 14 weeks I started doing light exercise again.

‘I gradually built myself up to where I am now. I feel the best I’ve ever felt. So it took over a year, but I just did it on my own time, at my own pace – and now I feel great.”

Gemma regularly shares her ups and downs of parenthood on social media.

In October, the former soap star hit back at mum-shamers who criticized her for slapping her son Thiago ‘to teach him a lesson’.

MailOnline revealed at the time that Gemma had told her two million followers that she had pinched Thiago in retaliation for doing the same to her daughter Mia, five.

Some parents felt her actions were poor form of punishment Jo Studholmeeditor of Parenting Expert, admits it is ‘harmful’.

Jo told MailOnline: ‘Squeezing a child back as a form of punishment is not only ineffective but can also be harmful.

‘It teaches children that violence is an acceptable way to resolve conflicts.

“Instead, try using positive discipline techniques, such as time-outs, loss of privileges, or talking calmly with the child about his behavior.”

Gemma defended her actions in an Instagram story on Wednesday after receiving a huge backlash.

She said: ‘Thiago is going through a phase where he bites and bites.

“I said the other day that he really smothered Mia, so I went right back to him (gesturing with a pinching gesture) and said, ‘Yes, we don’t bite.’

“I didn’t ‘uuur’ (insinuating pain while pretending to squeeze her own arm), as if I would?”

The former Hollyoaks and Emmerdale star, who also appeared in a reality show with Gorka and the couple’s two children on the W channel, posted her original post to Instagram Stories to highlight the behavioral differences between her children.

The message read: ‘I really notice the differences in how Mia was towards Thiago. It’s fun to watch. Toys are just bumped or pushed across the floor and the tantrums are new because Mia didn’t have them.

‘He pretends to cry and throws himself on the ground. I stand and watch until he realizes it’s not getting him anywhere and they’re slowly getting shorter.’

About the squeezing, she adds, “He squishes when he gets frustrated. I did it again with him on Wednesday, because he was having a hard time with Mia. He hasn’t done it since.’

Gemma’s full interview is available now in the January/February issue of Women’s Health UK or on the WH website.