Gemma Collins reveals she unfollowed several Instagram accounts after struggling to keep up with the 8,000 people she followed on the social media app.
The Towie star opened up about the pressures of reality TV following the sudden death of Love Island star Mike Thalassitis, who took his own life in March.
Speaking to Piers Morgan and Susannah Reid on Monday’s episode of Good Morning Britain, Gemma explained: ‘I’ve got to be honest with you, to get on in this game you’ve got to work very hard.
‘If you’ve got an opportunity, seize the day and don’t just think you can sit at home, do a nightclub appearance and an Instagram post and then you’re made for life. You have to really go out there and keep working at it.’
Gemma, 38, also encouraged new reality stars to try and keep ‘a bit of normality’ in their daily lives to avoid being swept up in the celebrity circus.
Reflecting on her own experience with reality TV, the Dancing On Ice star continued: ‘I’ve always been very well looked after all throughout doing what I’ve done, coming from Towie.
‘We’ve had counsellors to speak to everyday. We would always go and have to be psych tested. I always have been really well looked after so for me, I can’t say that hasn’t happened.’
Gemma also recalled her interview for Towie back in 2011 and how producers asked if she was prepared to be featured in newspapers.
She continued: ‘But you’ve just got to take it in your stride as well. You can’t sit at home and think, “I’m really famous now because I’ve just been on a TV show”.
‘You’ve just got to remember it’s a job and try and keep it real because if you start thinking it’s a lifestyle, and the pressure to keep up with the lifestyle as well.
‘I recently unfollowed so many people on Instagram because I was following 8,000 people. You can’t look at 8,000 people everyday and try and keep up with what’s going on. I think it’s healthy to take a breather from that kind of thing as well sometimes.’
Good Morning Britain continues weekdays at 6am on ITV.
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