Gemma Collins discusses rekindling her romance with fiancé Rami Hawash

Gemma Collins has opened up about rekindling her romance with fiancé Rami Hawash, 10 years after they met.

The former TOWIE star, 41, and Rami reunited during lockdown, seven years after breaking off their original engagement.

Speaking to Ayda Williams on the Postcards from the Edge podcast, Gemma explained that she learned to love herself again before finding love a second time with Rami.

‘My mind wasn’t on having a partner’: Gemma Collins opened up about rekindling her romance with fiancé Rami Hawash, 10 years after they met

Gemma said: ‘I went through some really uncomfortable feelings. I had to face many things. Sometimes people treat me really bad and I used to overlook them. It’s okay, it’s show business. It was like dealing with all of that.

“But then I feel like maybe I was tested because once I learned to love myself again by that saying: once you love yourself, then someone else can love you. I’m not going to feel guilty about sadness.’

She opened up about learning to be alone and not needing a partner: ‘I fell in love with myself again. I got to know myself again. All these people that have come and gone in my life, they weren’t there for the right reasons.

“Then all of a sudden I was so comfortable being on my own, that I used to get a little annoyed if people were like ‘oh, we’re going to see you.’ Yeah, let’s do this, let’s make a hundred plans. I was like, you know what? Actually I’m fine.Then I got to a point, I was really comfortable, happy, it was like I had this, I’m relaxed, I make my own decisions in my own time.

Beloved: The former TOWIE star, 41, and Rami reunited during lockdown, seven years after breaking off their original engagement

Gemma has known Rami for over ten years, previously dating the businessman in 2011.

She explained the moment they got back in touch: ‘And then my dad got sick, Rami [Hawash] He held out his hand, he didn’t think for a minute about anything romantic. My mind wasn’t even on having a partner. In fact, I think for the first time in my life I wasn’t obsessed with meeting someone else. I became more concerned about myself and my happiness. I became very selfish.

“Then, literally out of nowhere, Rami showed up. We used to go on little walks and he was really good at picking up my mom from shopping if I couldn’t get there. I was like oh this is good. Once again I still wasn’t thinking, but I started to think, dammit, why didn’t I accept his proposal ten years ago when I wanted that kind of life.

Then I went another way and then I thought, actually, maybe this would be the right time for us. I didn’t say anything to him, I felt a bit devastated. Like, oh my gosh, I thought maybe I missed an opportunity.

Then, out of nowhere, it all came back. When you say I’ve matured, you know, I’ve gotten better at my job and things like that. I think I had to go through this whole process to get to this point. And now it’s as good as, you know.

Important: Speaking to Ayda Williams on the Postcards from the Edge podcast, Gemma explained that she learned to love herself again before finding love a second time with Rami.

It comes after she postponed her plans for an elaborate wedding with fiancé Rami Hawash due to the cost of living crisis.

Gemma was due to marry her business boyfriend in what she called an “out of this world wedding” after confirming their engagement last December.

But now it appears Gemma has changed her mind when she said it’s not “the time to spend millions on a wedding” with thousands across the country struggling with bills amid soaring energy rates.

Love life: Confirmed she was engaged to boyfriend Rami Hawash last December (pictured together)

speaking to Mirror, The self-proclaimed diva assured that she was still getting married, but instead of blowing the cash on the big day, the nuptials might as well be a quieter day.

Asked if she was still planning her wedding, she said: ‘Not at all. Because I think it’s not the time to spend millions on a wedding, you know?

Hinting that she might even elope with her love, she continued, “It’s not the time, it will happen, to be honest, my life is always like I’m on stage anyway.”

‘So when I get married, I’ll probably do it in peace and quiet.’

And while the TV personality is cutting back on her nuptials, she’s also cutting back on Christmas, as she told the publication it’s the “smaller things in life” that mean the most to her.

Reflecting on the current climate, he added that it’s “really hard” for people, suggesting it’s not the value of the gifts that’s important, but the moment you create, adding that he’s opting for “sentimental gifts” this year.

He also noted that in these ‘scary times’, he has asked that his loved ones not buy him anything, saying he doesn’t need anything as his ‘cup is full’.

Delay: Asked if she was still planning her wedding, she said: ‘Not at all. Because I think it’s not the time to spend millions on a wedding, you know?