Former Hollyoaks actress Gemma Atkinson has stripped naked for Women’s Health magazine.
The actress, who appeared in the soap set in Chester , also has shared on Instagram an unedited photo taken by herself at the shoot, along with a moving message hoping to inspire other women to love themselves and their bodies.
Gemma, who last week spoke out against body shaming trolls, says at first she wasn’t keen on taking part in a naked photoshoot.
But after reading past issues and realising that the magazine’s naked issue was about highlighting the importance of feeling comfortable in your own skin, she changed her mind and jumped at the chance.
Sharing the photo, 31-year-old Gemma told her fans on Instagram: "So here it is! A behind the scenes of my @ukwomenshealth #nakedissue. (Taken by me on my phone off the computer screen on the day so NO PHOTOSHOP).
“When I was first asked to take part in this shoot my answer was No.
“In fact it was a “Naked? Are you kidding?!” But after a lot of thought and reading past issues and discovering why the Naked issue is out every year I jumped on board.
“This issue is about woman being comfortable in their own skin."
She added: “I’m in it along with 10 beautiful woman all of us different in physique, height, weight, you name it.
“The one thing we have in common is our mutual support for females. To stand up and say, this is ME. This is MY shape. This is MY body. And I am PROUD OF IT!”
Gemma, who who likes to lift weights and keep fit, spoke out on the daytime chat show This Morning about trolls who criticise women for working out in the gym and achieving a muscly physique.
She has learned to ignore the trolls and is encouraging other women to do the same.
She added in her Instagram post: “It took me a while but at 31 I am happy within myself. Mentally and physically.
“I hope this picture inspires women to love their bodies and embrace every freckle, every inch, every muscle every curve and every bloody stretch mark on it! (Me included on the latter).
“YOUR body tells YOUR story. Some of you have even housed babies in there! Be proud! You are incredible. Don’t forget it.”
