Made in Chelsea star Kimberley Garner has told HELLO! Online that being on the reality show was "very tough" and that she was "shocked" when she watched back the edited episodes. The stunning blonde revealed why life got so much better after she decided to leave the show, as she launches her Spring Swimwear Collection, the second range for her line Kimberley London.
What initially attracted you to joining Made in Chelsea?
I love doing new things and taking on new adventures. A friend of mine asked if I wanted to go on the show and I thought, ‘Why not?’. It wasn’t planned – it was just a bit of fun to begin with, I really didn’t expect it to change my life the way it did. In one way it was amazing because it opened so many doors, but I found it all very tough. Ever since I left the show, everything’s gone so well. The whole thing made me so much stronger and much more independent.
Do you still talk to the other members of the cast?
I’m still friends with Richard, who was my on-screen love interest, but we’re just friends. I didn’t really know them before the show, and even when we were filming I didn’t really get to know the others very well.
What was your favourite thing about the show?
I loved the filming side, because of the excitement of getting ready, and having fun with it. Watching it back was so daunting – seeing yourself on television is the scariest thing!
What was one of your least favourite things about Made in Chelsea?
They definitely edit a lot – I was shocked when I watched it back. They get you to say certain phrases, and suddenly create scenes that happened completely differently to reality. You’d watch it back thinking, ‘That didn’t even happen!’ and the storyline would be completely different. That was one of the reasons why I left.
Would you ever do television again?
If I could do anything in the world, it would be Strictly, if only for the outfits! I’ve been approached to do my own television show with my family – we all live on the same street, we’re a bit like a blonde, British version of the Kardashians. I trained at RADA though so I’d quite like to go down the acting route one day. At the moment though, my focus is on fashion.
Have you always wanted to go into fashion?
I think it’s every girl’s dream to go into fashion. I initially started designing dresses, but I quickly moved to swimwear because it was more fun. I think you can be a lot more creative with it as there aren’t many boundaries.
What made you decide to do a swimwear collection?
I wanted to design something that would flatter a woman’s body. I always found it difficult to find swimwear that suited me and felt there was a real hole in the market. I’ve been designing swimwear since I was little – I used to draw bikinis on napkins! I’ve done everything by myself for this collection, from the designs to the manufacturing. I found these amazing fabrics in Italy and had them flown over, because I want the quality to be really good. I’ve learned so much in the process about how to create a bikini that embraces a woman’s body shape.
What was your inspiration for this collection?
My last collection was quite young and full of pastels, so I wanted this one to be a bit more grown-up and sexier. I wanted it to feel very glamorous, but also quite natural. When we did the shoot, it was just a photographer. I didn’t have anyone doing hair and make-up, I wanted it to be something all girls could relate to.
You model your own swimsuits – what do you do to get a bikini-ready body?
It was quite daunting to put those photos of myself out there, I do get a bit shy about what people will think. To stay in shape, I do a lot of dance. I’ve found a great class which is a mix of ballet and pilates, and I really have seen a difference. I hate going to the gym, so going to a class suits me a lot more as I actually enjoy exercising.
Do you watch what you eat?
Not really. I love food, and I do love my junk food. I try and have a healthy balance and eat a bit more in the day than at night. I think it’s really important to have a healthy attitude towards food and eat what you want in moderation.