Chanelle Hayes

The gorgeous and inspirational Chanelle Hayes is a TV personality, model, singer, entrepreneur, and body positive advocate. She is best known for her appearances on Channel 4’s reality TV show Big Brother in 2007, when she was 19-years-old, and for her recent struggles with obesity. Her autobiography, Baring My Heart, co-written with Anna Pointer, was published in 2014. She is now working as a student nurse with plans to quit fame and be a fully qualified medic by 2024.

Born in Manchester and raised in Yorkshire, Hayes emerged into the public eye in 2007 when she became one of the house guests on the eighth series of Channel 4’s hit reality TV show Big Brother. She quickly became a media darling and regularly featured in papers and magazine photo shoots and interviews. She was also voted the Favourite Big Brother Housemate Ever by the forum members of Digital Spy, and even designed and launched her own perfume, Mwah…

Hayes went on to work on the VH1 UK show Wannabe, presented for Nuts TV, and was also the focus of the VH1 UK reality series Chanelle: Wannabe Popstar in 2008, which charted her progress as she attempted to make a debut single and video. She also began modelling, appearing on the cover of the lads magazines Nuts and Zoo Weekly, as well as for Diva Corsets, and released calendars for 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2014. However, she always suffered from yo-yo-ing weight and after her second child was born, things got worse. Addicted to binge-eating, she continually turned down work opportunities eventually hiding herself away as she was so ashamed by her size 18 figure. After fears for her health and being crippled financially she had gastric sleeve surgery to limit her food intake. Now a proud size 10 she often shares her current ‘warts and all’ body image online to help others who suffer from fluctuating weight and low self-esteem.

Hayes regularly connects with her legions of followers and fans through Instagram, posting then and now pictures and videos about her body image.