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I'm A Celebrity: Rebecca Adlington's tears highlight 'how even iconic female role models face the body confidence issue'

I'm A Celeb 2013: As Rebecca reveals her body insecurities, Judi James, a leading body language expert, explains the sad truth that body confidence is still an issue - despite our successes

Watching a beauty queen parade around in a tiny bikini is enough to unsettle most women.

And it seems even Olympic athletes aren't exempt from feeling pressure over their body image, judging by the latest antics on I'm A Celebrity.

Gold-medal holder Rebecca Adlington was reduced to tears in the jungle last night, admitting to her fellow jungle camp mates how the sight of Amy Willerton's bikini body made her feel insecure about her own.

Despite being arguably one of the fittest camp mates this year's series has to offer, the 24-year-old broke down as Amy continued to strut around the camp in her bikini - much to Joey's delight.

She told the Bush Telegraph: "It's make me very, very insecure that I have to look [a certain way]. For me, I was an athlete.

"I wasn't trying to be a model, but pretty much every single week on Twitter I get somebody commenting on the way I look."

For many at home watching, Rebecca's admission will have come as somewhat of a surprise.

Just why should a twice gold-medal winner, who was one of Britain's poster girls of the Olympics, a celebrated sportswoman - a fit, very healthy woman - feel riled at the sight of a pin up in a bikini?

Sadly as Judi James, a leading body language expert, explains - Rebecca's emotional turmoil highlights a very issue facing ALL women today. No matter how successful we are, the issue of 'am I prettiest?' seems almost unavoidable.

"The wonderful thing about Rebecca is that she's an iconic role model for younger girls," Judi told us.

"[And last night] is a huge pity because she's successful, she's popular - she probably would have stood the best chance of winning the show.

"But this is very much pointing out that despite how strong you are - an alpha female who's physically strong - the biggest problem women have is 'am I the prettiest?' It almost seems to be in our DNA.

"I would argue that she's more beautiful, I mean she's so attractive - it's a tragedy of women. It doesn't matter show successful you are in other fields, [it can still come down to that]."

Interestingly, as Judi points out, feeling insecure over your looks is very much a one-sided gender issue.

"You don't see this happen to men," she continued.

"I can't imagine Alan Sugar breaking down because he doesn't look like David Beckham."

And for Rebecca - who we're used to seeing on TV looking so stoic and determined ahead of a race - such a response not only highlights the tough environment of the show, but the pressures women face everyday.

"The show puts us in the scenario where you're forced to revert to pseudo-infantile reponses [because of what you're experiencing]," Judi explained.

"Being in unusual circumstances like they are on the show, it strips people naked of all their achievements and takes them back to the age emotionally and behaviorally of being about 13."

She continued: "What we're seeing as viewers, is an amazing alpha female going back to that."

So just how does it affect viewers at home?

"It reinforces the idea of what is most important to the young girls watching at home," Judi said. "I don't blame Rebecca - the show forces you into that scenario."`

In fact people need to consider the other strains the stars on the show are under, in order to fully understand what they're seeing on screen says Judi.

"[We're not considering what goes on in the background]; she's teased and bullied because of her looks by Twitter trolls," she continued.

"And we don't know if she suffered that at school. The other thing we have to remember with Rebecca is she might not be feeling her best right now. Like bodybuilders when they're in competition, they hone themselves for the competition.

"But the minute they're not in competition they're not at their ideal physical peak. She might have put on a bit of weight, she might feel enormous as a result - to the rest of us she looks fabulous, but we're not seeing how she's feeling."

And as well as all the pressures that come with being on the show, for Rebecca it's that bit harder as she's also having to get used to living with TV 'performers,' says Judi.

"We have to remember that there are things we won't see, she explained.

"For example, she's an athlete - she won't be used to living with performers. They ll be focused on whether they're getting enough air time, what do they look like on screen etc.

"They will be being hugely competitive in their own ways and while Rebecca is an Olympic athlete, she'll have come from a very different competitive world."

She continued: "I could put a list of circumstances as to why their revert to infantile circumstances - lack of food etc.

"And what happens to people when they haven't got enough food, it puts us into survival mode and exaggerates negative emotions.


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"It makes it very difficult to be rational and emotional. And for an athlete especially, they need their food.

"Razor Ruddock (who appeared in the third series) really struggled without food. He couldn't be the chirpy choppy we're used to seeing."

So just how is Rebecca supposed to overcome this, while in such an environment?

"I feel really sorry for [Rebecca]  because it's all really perpetual," Judi said. "It would be great if we could say to her to see what we see.

"When I saw her going into the jungle, I thought she would be a great role model - she'll be great at tasks, she's really strong etc.

"But like many of us, she may only see the bad things, she might only be seeing the Twitter trolls.

"Frankie Boyle once had a pop at her; she might only read the insults."

Judi added that going forward, getting used to life in the jungle and finding her footing when it comes to talks etc will help Rebecca - but she will face competition.

"She needs to be brave; winning all the tasks, helping other people win tasks etc [will help].

"There are a lot of people [to contend with] who are doing that though. Like Joey Essex. There's a lot of chivalry in there and going on.

"[But she also needs to remember] that you can win public favour and then lose it over night on a show like I'm A Celeb. It's very active and instanteous.

"And crucially, it's important for [women watching who'll feel insecure at the sight of Amy's body] not to risk damaging their health by trying to copy her. It's health dangerous."

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