Gemma Collins, the beloved I’m A Celebrity: South Africa star, has revealed the heartbreaking struggles she’s facing as she navigates the challenges of perimenopause — and fans are rallying around her after her candid admission.
Taking to Instagram, Gemma shared the shocking reality of how the condition has affected her daily life. “PERI MENOPAUSE SUCKS!!!!! I’ve lost two sets of car keys in one week and I do not know for the life of me where I put them…” she confessed, speaking honestly about her memory lapses. “I can’t remember nothing, it’s bizarre! It’s like an out-of-body experience — my mind is normally very sharp!”
Fans immediately responded with advice and support, many suggesting hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or exercise as a way to cope. Fellow reality star Tanya Bardsley also chimed in, revealing she’s experiencing similar symptoms, writing: “I feel ya hunny.”
Perimenopause, the transitional phase before menopause when estrogen levels begin to drop, often hits women in their forties, bringing symptoms such as irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, and, like Gemma, problems with memory and concentration. According to sources close to the former TOWIE star, Gemma has been particularly emotional recently. “She’s losing her keys, struggling with her memory, and feeling up and down with her emotions… it’s hit her hard,” a source revealed.
Gemma first spoke about her perimenopause journey last November, noting unusual symptoms like inner-ear itching and extreme fatigue. “I feel like something isn’t right with my hormones. It’s no secret that perimenopause can creep up on you at any time,” she said.
Beyond forgetfulness, Gemma has opened up about other side effects that have impacted her everyday life — from low libido to irritability triggered by ordinary sounds, including the way her fiancé Rami Hawash eats. “My partner knows when to stop chewing so I don’t kick off,” she joked. Even her dogs and fiancé now “wear name tags” in her playful acknowledgment of her memory lapses.
Earlier this year, Gemma returned to the I’m A Celebrity jungle, and while she completed the course, she admits her perimenopause symptoms made the experience far tougher. “I was waking up just bursting into tears in the morning,” she revealed. “You start to notice it creeping in… one of the first signs for me was itching in the inner ear.”
Currently, Gemma is filming her own reality show, Four Weddings And A Baby, documenting her journey toward marriage and motherhood. After enduring three miscarriages and a long battle with infertility, she is hoping IVF will help her achieve her dream of becoming a mother this year.
Despite the rollercoaster of emotions, Gemma remains determined and resilient. “You see me broken,” she admitted, “but it’s very raw. Even with the lights, the big house, the glamorous life, you can still be broken in so many ways.” A source close to Gemma confirms she copes by talking openly about her experiences, though some days are tougher than others.
With wedding planning and summer breaks ahead, Gemma is committed to not letting perimenopause or emotional challenges hold her back. She continues to push forward, embracing life, love, and the journey toward fulfilling her dreams.
Gemma’s honesty offers a raw, relatable, and powerful insight into the realities of perimenopause — proving that even the brightest stars face struggles behind the scenes, yet continue to shine.
