Holiday snaps are usually a harmless bit of sunshine for fans — but the latest bikini photos shared by Amy Childs have left those closest to her shaken.
The Only Way Is Essex favourite, 35, posted a string of poolside pictures while away with her family, including one in a yellow bikini alongside her daughter Polly. To followers, she looked dramatically different from the bubbly, glamorous beauty therapist who first burst onto screens 15 years ago.
And while Amy proudly showcased her newly slim figure, friends say the dramatic weight loss has sparked serious fears about what’s really going on behind the familiar Essex smile.
Those close to the reality star have now told The Sun they are deeply worried about what they describe as a “super stressed” mum-of-four.
‘It’s Emotional Seeing Her in Person’
One friend admitted the images were genuinely upsetting.
“We are all so worried about her,” the source said. “She’s been under huge stress this past year — her mum has been unwell, and now she’s trying to plan a big wedding.”
They added:
“It’s actually quite emotional seeing her in person because she is so tiny. Last year she was saying she wanted to put some weight on — but if anything, she’s got even smaller.”
Another friend made a comparison that left them uneasy.
“She’s turning into Katie Price — and that’s heartbreaking. We just want Amy to be happy and healthy, but she won’t listen to anyone.”
Katie, who has herself sparked concern in recent years over her increasingly slight frame, is said to be a friend of Amy’s.
A Journey That’s Never Been Smooth
Fans who have followed Amy since her early TOWIE days — when she popularised the infamous vajazzle and dominated headlines — know her life has rarely been straightforward.
After welcoming twins Billy and Milly in April 2023 with fiancé Billy Delbosq, Amy openly admitted she’d fallen into what she described as a “complete baby bubble”.
“I had no energy,” she confessed at the time. “I was eating complete rubbish and felt really unhappy in myself.”
More recently, Amy praised her new meal plans, reformer Pilates sessions and personal trainer Freya — but it was one honest admission that raised eyebrows.
She revealed stress had caused her to “lose a little more weight than I wanted”.
Friends say that confession rang alarm bells.
Backlash From Fans — Again
This isn’t the first time Amy has faced public criticism over her body.
Back in 2017, just weeks after giving birth to daughter Polly, she split from then-boyfriend Bradley Wright and shared a before-and-after bikini snap promoting a 28-day weight loss coffee. The backlash from new mums was fierce, accusing her of pushing unrealistic body standards — forcing Amy into a swift apology.
History appeared to repeat itself earlier this month when she shared another set of before-and-after photos, writing: “Can’t believe I’m uploading this picture but here goes.”
One friend said:
“She looked perfectly healthy in the ‘before’ picture. It’s like she can’t see what we can see — and that’s distressing. Amy gives everything 100 per cent, but with weight loss, she’s taken things too far.”
Some of her 1.1 million Instagram followers echoed that concern.
One commented:
“The first picture is not overweight. Please don’t promote that post-baby bodies are overweight — it’s really upsetting.”
Others were gentler, saying:
“You’re beautiful, but you’re starting to look malnourished.”
Denials, Stress — And More Questions
Amy has repeatedly denied over-restricting her diet and insists this transformation is healthier than previous ones. She has also firmly rejected rumours that her dramatic weight loss is down to fat jabs.
While she did briefly try weight loss injections in 2023, her representative previously told The Sun she stopped immediately after feeling unwell.
“This year, after her mum became ill, she lost more weight due to stress,” the rep explained, adding that wedding pressures also played a role.
Amy and Billy are now planning to marry later this year after cancelling their wedding in 2025, when her mum Julie was rushed to hospital with a suspected heart attack just weeks before the ceremony.
Amy later admitted:
“It’s so much pressure. I don’t want to be stressed — it’s my big day. I want everything perfect, but we don’t know what’s going on.”
A Dangerous Game?
Despite the sympathy, some have questioned whether the striking images are also part of a strategy to stay relevant in the influencer spotlight.
“Amy has always known how to get people talking,” one source claimed. “But this time, she’s playing a very dangerous game.”
For now, concern continues to ripple through her inner circle — and among fans who remember the confident, curvy star who once defined an era of reality TV.
One thing is clear: behind the carefully curated Instagram snaps, many are hoping the pressure Amy admits she’s under isn’t quietly taking a far heavier toll.
Source: https://www.thesun.co.uk/
