I'm A Celebrity South Africa star Gemma Collins's shocking TOWIE wage and her £1.3 million mansion
No one does it quite like the GC!Gemma Collins headed into camp on I’m A Celebrity South Africa as a latecomer earlier this month, 12 years after she made her first appearance. And she’s already making a splash!
She joined the likes of David Haye, Ashley Roberts and Adam Thomas for the spin-off show after it returned on Easter Monday.
It’s no secret that Gemma is a reality TV favourite and has been entertaining the nation for years. From starring in established reality shows to fronting her own, the GC has proven to be in demand.
Here, we take a deep dive into the life of I’m A Celebrity South Africa star Gemma Collins, including her age, who she is in a relationship with and some of her most popular television gigs.
How did Gemma Collins get famous?
Gemma Collins rose to household name fame after starring in the ITV2 reality show The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE) in 2011.
She became a series regular from Series 2 and remained on the show until 2019. As the show marked its 15th anniversary in 2025, Gemma reflected on her time on the show with BBC Essex.
“I’ll always cherish it. It was special, it was just magic,” she said.
“They were wild, they were great, they were fun,” Gemma continued, adding: “It was a whole new era and it was just a vibe and a time and I will never, ever change [or] regret [it].”
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Before joining the cast, Gemma had been selling cars at a BMW garage in Harold Wood, east London. And as a result, she admitted it was a “massive risk” to leave her 9-to-5 behind her.
“Yes, we all got paid £50 in the day but it all turned out good. I’m still living here to tell the tale. I knew I was going to be able to have a good life off the back of taking a massive risk,” Gemma explained.
Are Gemma and Bobby still friends?
During her time on TOWIE, Gemma and Bobby had a close friendship. However, in recent years, they have drifted apart.
The pair have been quite vocal that they have not spoken in years. Bobby admitted he hasn’t seen Gemma in seven years and stated she is harder to reach than “Marilyn Monroe on a Ouija board”.
However, Gemma isn’t against rekindling her friendship with her former pal. During an appearance on the Wright At Home podcast, she said he had tried to get in contact with Bobby but had no luck.
“I’d love to see Bobby again, I don’t know where he is,” she explained. “I did call him with Chloe Sims, because when she comes over from LA, she doesn’t live far from us, actually. I said, ‘Come on, let’s ring Bob.’ Rung, did he answer? No.”
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What does Gemma Collins look like now? Has she lost weight?
Gemma, who is now 45, has been open about her weight-loss journey over the years.
She is known for her long, wavy blonde locks and is no stranger to a killer fashion moment.
In November 2024, Gemma admitted she began losing weight with the help of slimming injections. While also exercising, she revealed she dropped from a size 26 to a size 20.
“I love myself as I am – you’ve got to be kind to yourself, it’s just about constantly remembering to make those right choices and be mindful,” she told OK! in October 2025 as she opened up about her transformation.
“I don’t put pressure on myself. It didn’t take you five minutes to gain it and it’s not going to take you five minutes to lose it.”
When was she on Big Brother?
Gemma was a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother for series 17 in 2016. Joining a larger-than-large cast, including Danniella Westbrook, Tiffany Pollard and Scotty T, Gemma finished in seventh place.
During her time on the show, Gemma was known for her iconic outbursts, diva moments and one-liners, which later became popular internet memes.
Where does Gemma Collins live?
Born in Romford, East London, Gemma lives in a £1.3 million converted barn in the Essex countryside, specifically in the village of Roxwell, near Chelmsford.
Nicknamed Gemmawood, the mansion features extensive gardens with a hydro pool, a large pond, and distinct decorations, including large elephant statues.
She lives with her fiancé, Rami Hawash, as well as her parents, who have had health issues over the years.
“Everyone in the family’s doing well, mum and dad are well,” she told The Sun in 2025. “They live with me now. They’ve moved into my home, so we’re like one big Irish family.”
“My brother lives six minutes up the road and I’ve got my nephews. We’re all within touching distance,” she continued.
Can she sing?
Gemma can sing. In 2020, she recorded a rendition of Baby It’s Cold Outside with fellow Celebrity Big Brother housemate Darren Day.
During an appearance on the BBC show All Together Now, Gemma performed a cover of Big Spender, which has been watched over 1.4 million times on YouTube.
Geri Halliwell was a judge on the show and described her performance as “amazing” and expressed how “proud” she was of the GC.
Gemma Collins without makeup
Gemma is no stranger to a no-makeup moment and has shown off her natural appearance on social media several times.
In 2020, she posed during the coronavirus pandemic wearing a black t-shirt that read, “Social distance Queen.” Paired with black leggings and sliders, Gemma tied her signature locks up and smiled with her bare face on show.
“NO FILTER. NO MAKEUP. JUST ME UNAPOLOGETICALLY ME. SOCIAL DISTANCE QUEEN,” she wrote in her caption.
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Gemma on returning to I’m A Celebrity
Gemma first appeared on I’m A Celebrity in 2014 for the 14th series. However, following just three days, she quit due to extreme panic, lack of food, and a fear of rats.
After signing up for the South Africa series alongside Scarlett Moffatt, Ashley Roberts and Adam Thomas, Gemma revealed at the line-up launch event why she decided to give the show another shot.
“Obviously, it didn’t work out for me the first time around,” she admitted.
“When I got asked to do it again, I thought I had spent my whole life with this black cloud hanging over my head. I am older now, I just thought, I have to do this before whatever happens to me in my life, I must go back into that jungle. It was one regret I had. This was a total redemption from me.”
Is Gemma Collins married?
Gemma is not married. However, she has been engaged to Rami Hawash since February 2024.
Earlier this year on Instagram, she revealed she plans to tie the knot and have a baby.
On April Fool’s Day, she shared a photo of herself in a wedding dress, pretending she and Rami had exchanged vows in a “secret” ceremony.
“Hey guys I got married in secret recently I didn’t marry as the GC i married as the girl @rami_hawash_knows pre fame it was the most beautiful day with the most beautiful people in a room filled with love,” she wrote in her caption.
“Sadly the stories started to circulate so I have had to share this with you all now is the time.”
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Gemma has been romantically linked to several other men. However, many will remember her high-profile relationship with James Argent that featured on TOWIE.
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What to expect from Gemma Collins on I’m A Celebrity South Africa
Gemma entered camp on April 7 as one of this year’s latecomers. And she got straight into it with a head-to-head eating challenge alongside Craig Charles. She told hosts Ant and Dec: “Just give me a chance guys, please. I’ve got a different mindset this time, don’t write me off. I’m not here as the GC, I’m not here as the bravado… I’m here as Gemma Collins so it would be nice for you to get to know her as well.”
“You want to be a Legend? You’ve got to go big or go home,” Ant told her during her first trial, Gut Instincts. Gemma did just that, with many viewers declaring that that star who lasted just 72 hours last time around was now in her ‘redemption era’.
She was hailed as a walking meme by Savannah Scrub campmate Seann Walsh, talked about David Haye’s throuple with Adam Thomas and bellowed: “Someone call my agent!” when she was forced to sleep on an uncomfortable bed that she feared would leave her hospitalised!
After a brief reunion in Main Camp, Gemma and the gang were soon split into two camps – Rhino Tribe and Lion Tribe, with Gemma taking her spot in the former with King Jimmy Bullard.
Up until last night, Gemma had been doing brilliantly. However, a flash forward to tonight’s episode (April 15) appeared to show Gemma throw in the towel during a trial with Scarlett Moffatt. She was then see crying to Adam Thomas that she’d had enough of camp life.
With eliminations due to begin, will Gemma stay to be evicted from camp, or will she walk of her own accord?
