SHE is one of reality TV’s original stars who made a name for herself on Geordie Shore 15 years ago.
But despite her fame and fortune, Charlotte Crosby admits: “It’s not been an easy ride”.
In fact, the 35-year-old says she had it tougher than those who signed up to Love Island years later.
Charlotte told The Sun: “We didn’t just go on Geordie Shore and then everything was hunky-dory, like when people go on Love Island then they get offered everything. It didn’t happen that way.
“We had every door slammed in our face because no one wanted to work with us – all because we were from Geordie Shore.
“So the fact that I’m still here 15 years later it’s really quite an achievement.”
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Geordie Shore launched in 2011 as the British spin-off of the American series Jersey Shore, and was set in Newcastle.
But Charlotte says: “For three years no one wanted to work with us, we had no money.
“Then a light bulb switched on and it was like ‘okay we can’t ignore these people anymore’ because the show was getting bigger and bigger.
“It started to get a little bit easier from then.”
The Geordie Shore stars were known for their boozy bar fights, explosive rows and having sex on TV.
But since then, what is shown on reality TV has been toned down – with sex only ever hinted at on shows like Love Island.
“Reality stars these days have it so easy because none of them make any mistakes on TV,” says Charlotte.
“TV just can’t be made like that anymore. do you know what I mean? Things that were acceptable then just aren’t now.
“So they all just go on and look great and come off and just do so well.
“Listen, I’m not bothered about that. I’ve really enjoyed my struggles and my fight.
“I wouldn’t change it. It makes me the person who I am today.”
Charlotte‘s now back on TV with a new Paramount+ reality series called Geordie Stories: Charlotte Mam of Two, having previously been named Charlotte’s New Baby after it followed her second pregnancy.
It shows Charlotte’s busier than ever lifestyle and the ups and downs of her relationship with with partner Jake Ankers.
The 35-year-old says she’s “lucky” to have made a comeback – but doesn’t regret taking time off to focus on their kids, Alba and Pixi.
She added: “I went through a period of time where I chose to have a family and obviously, as a woman who wants to have both, it’s a little bit of a struggle. Especially in my industry because it’s a dog eat dog world.
“If you’re not there to do the job, someone else will get it and you’ll get left behind.
“It’s just self-employed hell and if you’re not the best or talking to the right people or even in the right circles, you literally get left behind.
“There was a time when I was everywhere, but I don’t want to be everywhere again.
“I like to spend most of my time with my two beautiful children.”
