Lauren star

TOWIE WEDDING EXCLUSIVE

‘I feel like a princess!’

LAUREN GOODGER SHARES HER BIG DAY PREPARATIONS WITH OK!EXTRA

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ong-suffering TOWIE star Lauren Goodger has been through more breakups and heartaches than most of us will deal with in a lifetime.

Her turbulent relationship with ladies’ man Mark Wright, 24, has been on and off more times than you can say “fake tan” and it’s all been played out in front of the nation.

Nightclub promoter Mark has been linked to several of the Essex lovelies on the show, including Lucy Mecklenburgh, who claimed she kissed Mark during his lads’ holiday out in Marbella, and more recently Lauren Pope, who he’s said to be texting.

But Lauren is undeterred by the negativity surrounding their relationship and says they are “stronger than ever” after having loved-up holidays in Portugal, Marbella and Vegas.

The couple plan to tie the knot next year so we decided to give Lauren a bit of practice for the big day in our wedding-themed shoot.

In between preening and trying on her wedding outfit, she tells us about dates, dieting secrets and why she thinks her and Mark are the most stable couple on TOWIE...

You look gorgeous in our shoot. How long do you think it will take you to get ready on the day?

I am having so much fun, it is one of the best shoots I have ever done. I love all the outfits and feel really feminine, like a princess! On my wedding day I think it’ll take me around five hours to get ready. I’m a bit of a stress head and I like everything to be perfect. As long as I’ve got some Champagne to calm me down I’ll be OK.

Below: Lauren and Mark appear very much in love again as they enjoy a romantic break in Las Vegas in June

Have you two got around to setting a wedding date yet?

We haven’t agreed anything but I think next year it might be on the cards. It has become such a big thing and there’s a lot of pressure – we’ll do it when we’re ready.

‘The cheating rumours are a load of rubbish!’

Would you ever tie the knot in front of the cameras?

It’s a tough one because we’re under contract and everything in our lives has to be fi lmed but if the wedding falls in a period when we are not fi lming then I guess we could do it in private. There’s no way that I could fi lm the show and have a private ceremony as well. I just wouldn’t be able to act out my vows in front of the camera. We’ll either do it on the show or in private but we won’t do both.

What kind of dress would you wear on the big day?

Something sleek and classy. There’s no way I’d walk down the aisle in a meringue! I will have something fitted with a fishtail skirt and maybe netting and diamantes. It’s going to be a nice, traditional day; nothing over-the-top.

Both Mark’s sister Jessica and your sister Nicola have doubts about the wedding.

Is that hard for you to deal with?

I’m used to the scepticism, it doesn’t bother me. It’s hard at times because I think Mark’s

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family just see his side and don’t stick up for me. I’m a girl’s girl and I’d like to get on with Mark’s mum and sister. I’m not interested in drama. Nicola is just being protective. She wants me to be happy with or without Mark.

Would you like to settle down and have kids one day?

Defi nitely. We’ve been talking about it since we were 15. I want four or five, I’d like a big family. Mark wants a whole team of boys but I’d like girls. I would go crazy in a house full of mini Marks. I used to think I wanted to have kids by 26 but I’m 24 now so it’s looking pretty unlikely. I’m in a selfish phase of my life where I’m far too busy to start a family but one day I’d defi nitely like to be a mum.

Your relationship with Mark is plagued with rumours about him cheating. A few weeks ago he was reportedly texting newly-single Lauren Pope. Is that true?

It’s an absolute load of rubbish. I don’t know where the papers get this stuff from. I know 100 per cent he’s not been texting Lauren.

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‘There’s no way I’ll go down the aisle in a meringue!’

Above centre: TOWIE stars Sam Faiers, Amy Childs, Lauren Goodger and Lydia Bright at the BAFTA bash I’m quite good friends with her and I have been helping her cope with her recent breakup from Kirk Norcross. The last thing she’s looking for is a new man. It just makes me laugh, Mark doesn’t even know her that well.

It’s me who’s her friend. Lauren is a nice girl and there’s no way she would do that to me. I ignore rumours because I know the truth.

What about Lucy Mecklenburgh, who claimed she was getting very close to Mark in Marbella?

All I can go on is Mark’s word. He told me nothing happened and I believe him. She went out with him for two weeks on the show and they weren’t properly together. He loves me and that’s what counts. I’m no pushover.

When the stories came out I packed up my things and took off my engagement ring, I was so angry. But that made Mark panic and he realised what he’s got with me. He doesn’t want anyone else. I’m not naive; I don’t think you can ever trust a man 100 per cent but I also think a lot of people set things up with paps and they make up stories to sell to the papers. Nothing is what it seems.

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You’ve been on and off with Mark for 10 years. Why do you think you keep coming back to each other?

We’ve been through a lot together and what people don’t realise is TOWIE is just a recent thing in our lives. We got together at 14 so I’ve grown up with him. He’s just Mark to me and I know him inside out. A lot of the other couples on the show are young and only just starting to get to know each other. We have done the break-ups, we have done the fighting – we’re past that stage. I’m not saying that we’re not going to have arguments in the future, we’re a fiery couple but I think that we both know we want to be together in the long run.

Do you think appearing on the show has had a negative affect on your relationship?

It’s defi nitely been hard and at times I have thought, “I don’t think that I can do this”. Me and Mark have been together for a long time and the show has defi nitely put pressure on us. When we have not been fi lming we’ve been getting on better.

You recently went to Vegas with Mark but were pictured looking a bit glum when you arrived. Was that the case?

Not at all. We were both really excited and Mark booked a limo to take us to the hotel but it was late arriving. We actually had a great time and I’ve never laughed so much.

We had a few drunken nights and met other couples. We were together 24/7 and didn’t get on each other’s nerves. We needed that time, just the two of us, after everything we’ve been through. That’s why we’ve lasted ten years; we’ve got the same sense of humour and have a good time together.

There was a lot of speculation about the fact you didn’t go to Marbella with Mark, while most of the TOWIE lot did. Is it true he told you not to go?

Absolutely not. People think Mark tells me what to do all the time but it was my decision not to go to Marbella. I’ve been thousands of times before and I just didn’t want to go there with all the paparazzi and pressure. He was on a stag-do anyway so there was no need for me to be there. You have to give each other space. I went to Tenerife with a friend who isn’t on the show just to get away from it all.

We’ve heard rumours that TOWIE might be screened 48 weeks of the year and become like a soap. Do you think you could handle that?

I’ve heard nothing to suggest that’s true but if it was I’d have to think about it carefully.

Filming is very full on and if the show was on all the time it would become your full time job. I would have to have some serious discussions about contracts and money. I enjoy my time off from fi lming so it would be a difficult decision.

The TOWIE girls all have great bodies and are toning up for the third series. Do you feel a lot of pressure to lose weight?

I’d be lying if I said it was easy being in the public eye. I’m a normal girl; my weight goes up and down. I’m normally a size 10 to 12 and my weight fluctuates between 9 and

10 stone. I lost a stone this year and I’m a size 10 but I’d like to be a bit smaller. I’m off to boot camp to try to tone up. I’d love to lose a stone and come back a size 8. That would surprise everyone!

Mark’s a bit of a fitness fanatic. Does he encourage you to work out?

Mark’s quite a good influence on me. We both like our food but know we have to work out to lose weight. If Mark didn’t exercise he would be chubby. He’s a healthy eater so we’ll often have fish or chicken and salad though we do like going out. He’s pretty dedicated to the gym and I haven’t got the same willpower but he’s been brought up quite image conscious and would never let himself go. I know he loves me if I’ve put on a bit of weight or not.

Mark’s little brother, 21-year-old Josh, is rumoured to be appearing on the show and the producers want him to ruffle feathers. Would you like him in the cast?

As far as I know there are no plans for him to join at the moment. I wouldn’t be worried though. I’ve known Josh for years and he’s a nice lad. I don’t think he’d be stirring up any trouble as he’s got a long-term girlfriend! I’d rather no more of our friends and family got involved. Me and Mark are central characters of TOWIE and I want the focus to stay on us.

Lots of TOWIE couples have broken up on the show. Do you think it’s down to the pressure of being on the show?

It puts a relationship under the microscope and it also gives people a bit of celebrity and fame which can go to a bloke’s head. A lot of the lads think the grass is greener. Kirk broke up with Lauren because he couldn’t commit to her. He’ll go out and live the single life for a while but he’ll soon realise what he had with her. I think Mark has gone through that as well but then he realised being single isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I don’t know what will happen with Lydia and Arg. They are a bit younger than us and being on the show can put the relationship under a lot of pressure. We’ll see if they last the distance.

The third series is due to start filming in September. How do you feel about it?

I’m really nervous about it. I’m excited but I am a bit scared too. Being on TOWIE is such a roller coaster. When I watched series one I was in tears. I just thought: “I’m not really like that” but there are a lot of up sides to being involved. It’s opened up so many doors for me. I’ve released my own tanning brand and it has given me a platform to get into the fashion and beauty industry. I would like the producers to show the more positive side of my relationship, though, and I hope the next series won’t be quite as emotional for me.

Saying that, I have no idea what will happen once the cameras start rolling!

PIC 1: SILK TEDDY £50, LA SENZA. GARTER £5, BHS. NUDE SHOES £30, LINZI SHOES. BRACELET, £15, EARRINGS, £15, LIDO PEARL COLLECTION. PIC 2: CREAM SILK AND LACE ROBE, £60, AUTOGRAPH AT MARKS & SPENCER. PIC 3: ROBE, AS BEFORE. BASQUE, £60 AND MATCHING FRENCH KNICKERS £15, AUTOGRAPH AT MARKS & SPENCER. PEARL EARRINGS, £15, LIDO PEARL COLLECTION. PIC 4: WEDDING GOWN £495, BHS EARRINGS AS BEFORE. STOCKISTS: BHS BHS.CO.UK, LA SENZA LASENZA.CO.UK, LIDO PEARL COLLECTION LIDOFRESHWATERPEARLS.CO.UK, LINZI SHOES LINZISHOES.COM, MARKS & SPENCER MARKSANDSPENCER.COM, MISS SELFRIDGE MISSSELFRIDGE.COM, WAREHOUSE WAREHOUSE.CO.UK INTERVIEW BY FRANCINE ANKER PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROBERT WALLIS STYLING: FASHIONSOS.CO.UK STYLIST ASSISTANT: SHANNON CROWLEY HAIR AND MAKE-UP: LYNDSEY HARRISON USING MAC

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