Chanelle Hayes has changed physically since her appearance on Big Brother in 2007, but she is also a very different person on the inside.
The 35-year-old celebrated the return of the classic programme on social media this week, taking the opportunity to reflect on how much she’s changed since her time in the Big Brother house.
Chanelle is known for being open and honest with her fans, and she recently detailed the highs and lows of her weight reduction operation, which resulted in her losing eight stone.
In a recent Instagram post, the adoring mother said that she was a ‘bratty, spoiled, fame-seeking, clueless, needy person’ when she was on Big Brother, but that she would not ‘have learnt how to reflect on myself to be a better person’ if she hadn’t.
Chanelle commented, in part, with a compilation of her time on the programme and life since, ‘And it is BACK!!!!!!!!!’ The show that changed the course of my life in ways I never imagined.
‘Not many people get to watch themselves and see what an utter fool they are and can use it to become a better person… I am so grateful that Big Brother allowed me to do this.’
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She continued: ‘Did it hurt like hell? Yes. Was it traumatic and unimaginable? Absolutely.
‘But would I change it for the world? Of course not. If my life hadn’t taken that path I would probably still be a bratty, spoiled, fame-seeking, unaware, needy person. I wouldn’t have my two amazing sons and a beautiful stepdaughter.
‘I would t be about to get married next year to the love of my life and I wouldn’t have learned how to reflect on myself to be a better person who wants to help touch the lives of others nowhere near a tv screen.’
Chanelle has also transformed physically in recent years after opting for a gastric sleeve due to a struggle with food addiction.
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In July, she shared photos of her time in hospital during the surgery alongside photos of her post-op and wrote: ‘I get so many DMs about my weight loss surgery. Was I nervous? Yes! But I did plenty of research beforehand.’
The TV star went on: ‘Do I regret it? Not one bit, it’s changed my life when I was unable to do so on my own.
‘Is it easy? No, there’s still lots of work to put in, it’s not a quick fix and it changes the way you eat/digest forever.
‘Is it for everybody? No. Nothing is for everybody really. If you’re seriously considering bariatric surgery, do your research. Exhaust other options. Speak to a professional who is able to give you medical advice.’
Chanelle added: ‘Did it change my life? Yes it did and I am forever grateful…in some ways it didn’t only change my life but it saved it. It allowed me to live again. My WLS allowed me to experience things with my loved ones that I wouldn’t feel able to do before. It improved my mood, my health, my quality of life.’
