I’M A Celebrity winner Giovanna Fletcher says merciless bullying at school gave her the grounding to be crowned the first Queen of the Castle.
In her first newspaper interview since winning the ITV series, she says being tormented and pushed around as a child gave her compassion.
And she revealed the experience encouraged her to move schools and apply for the Sylvia Young Theatre School, where she met her husband, McFly star Tom Fletcher.
She said: “I wouldn’t be the person I am today had I not been bullied — it shapes you.
“I had name calling at school between the ages of seven and nine. It was physical, too.
“I was pushed into rose bushes, which were around the school. I can remember being backed into those and I would get thorns everywhere. It was never nice having a school nurse pick thorns out your bottom.
“The conversation around bullying was different back then. It was more like, ‘Come on kids, get on with it’.
“Now, it’s taken much more seriously. Teachers are on it these days and are much more helpful when situations arise.”
Thinking back on how it affected her, the mum of three, 35, said she spent a lot of time alone and started singing to herself to cope.
She saw Sylvia Young on TV and realised theatre school was a real thing — and phoned the school to apply without her parents’ knowledge.
Giovanna said: “My family didn’t do things like that. We didn’t know about that.”
“Had I not been bullied I wouldn’t have had that time to let that imagination flourish. I also don’t think I would be as compassionate as I am today. I really care about people knowing that they’re not on their own.”
She is now mum to Buzz, six, Buddy, four, and Max, two, who have welcomed her home.
And now to celebrate her win, she is planning a party to renew wedding vows with husband Tom, whom she married in 2012.
Giovanna has revealed the couple endured heartbreak that same year when she suffered a miscarriage.
She said: “I had a miscarriage before Buzz and it took me years to be able to talk about it. But once you do it is hugely comforting to know that you’re not alone. When it happens you need the people in your life to be there for you and you don’t need to feel ashamed or like you’ve done anything wrong.
“You need the people in your life to be able to give you the support.”
She praised the Duchess of Sussex’s decision to open up on her experience of miscarriage.
Giovanna, or Gi as pals call her, said: “It’s amazing to hear that Meghan has spoken about it. I think it’s so important that people are open about it.
“Every time someone brings this topic of conversation up it helps so many people, because it’s such a lonely thing to go through.
“Hearing other people express themselves when you can’t find the words to help people understand what you’re going through is so important.
“I think it’s so admirable and amazing for her to share what is a really raw, upsetting thing.”
Her honesty about the challenges of parenting has already helped her became a motherhood guru with a loyal army of fans.
And her maternal nature helped earn her the nickname Mama Gi in camp.
Giovanna welcomed Meghan’s sister-in-law Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, on to her podcast in February and the pair got on like a house on fire.
Now she is keen to work with her again on screen, revealing: “I’d love to think Kate has watched me on I’m A Celeb.
“I am absolutely in awe of her and the way she conducts herself — and the passion she has for her work with early years parenting is so admirable.”
But with the spotlight focused on her and TV opportunities flooding in, she insists she will not be transforming her look with cosmetic surgery.
Essex-born Giovanna, whose brother Mario Falcone appeared on Towie, said: “In terms of cosmetic surgery, I am very happy to be bare-faced and watching the grey hairs come in and wrinkles pop up. I’m happy being me.”
