Super-fit Gemma Atkinson reveals she has been trolled online over her muscular frame but says she loves feeling strong

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Gemma Atkinson has laughed off comments that her muscular figure makes her look manly.

The actress and model, 31, revealed that a man commented on one of her Instagram images saying: 'You are so big, you're like a lad.'

Gemma says her response to him was: 'Well if you started to lift heavier weights then maybe you would look like more of a man, too!'

'Over the years I have grown to love the way I look and my figure has become a lot more muscular'

The Emmerdale actress says people who are threatened by her appearance are just jealous.

'I have changed my body and they clearly want to as well. Sadly, they don't have the same drive and willpower so they put me down. It's so petty.'

Body-confident Gemma, who plays Carly in the ITV soap, reveals she has become happier with her appearance.

'Over the years I have grown to love the way I look and my figure has become a lot more muscular as a result of regular gym workouts and yoga,' she says in an interview with Closer.

'I have increased my muscle mass and reduced my body fat so I look bigger now than before. I'm certainly heavier, but I love it - I feel strong.'

Despite her enviable figure and career as a lingerie model, Manchester-born Gemma, who recently split from boyfriend of two years Olly Foster, used to get bullied for her looks.

Gemma looks glamorous at the British Soap Awards at the Hackney Town Hall Assembly Rooms in May, 2016

However, after working tirelessly on her physique, newly-single Gemma, now has body confidence by the bucket load.

And she made sure to show the personal trainer what he's missing when she headed out on Saturday night.

The former Hollyoaks star showed off her incredible gym-honed figure as she left Neighbourhood bar in Manchester with her girl pals, going braless in a very sexy mini dress.

She later petted a man's dog in the street, making sure to hang onto her modesty as she leant over in her gold statement heels.

To keep herself in top shape, the blonde stunner wakes up at 4.30am and starts her day with yoga or 30 minutes on the exercise bike - but occasionally indulges in doughnuts as a reward.

Gemma does not own a scale and has frequently made the case that weighing more does not mean one is less fit.

'Believe it or not, I'm around 1 stone heavier in the pink bikini but with a lot less body fat'

At the start of the year she posted a striking side-by-side bikini photo on Instagram, showing her body before and after she started weight training.

She looks healthy and stunning in both shots, but points out that she weighs more in the after photo, which shows her looking absolutely ripped.

The caption said: 'Believe it or not, I'm around 1 stone heavier in the pink bikini but with a lot less body fat.'

'I am very happy now,' the former I'm A Celebrity star said in a recent interview. 

'I still get insecure like most girls. My legs will always be my problem area, that's where we hold weight in my family.

'I have kind of learned to love them in a way. They have been with me for 31 years carrying 11 stone around, so they are doing something right.' 

When it comes to surgery, she told the Express: I had breast enlargement surgery when I was younger, which I'm happy with. I am not keen on doing anything to my face. I don't like the idea of Botox, or fillers or anything like that.

Although she is super-happy with her physique and appearance after honing it to the nth degree, she revealed in an interview in March that she still gets flak over her looks.

'I remember telling someone and they couldn't believe I was that weight,' she told the Mirror.

'But I am 5ft 9in tall, have big thighs and I'm broad – from "good stock' as my grandad would say."

'I am very happy now,' she said. 'I still get insecure like most girls. My legs will always be my problem area, that's where we hold weight in my family.

'I have kind of learned to love them in a way. They have been with me for 31 years carrying 11 stone around, so they are doing something right.'

She says people are just jealous. 'I have changed my body and they clearly want to as well'

Despite her recent split from boyfriend Olly, a former rugby player, the pair friends and he continues to train her. 

She told the Sunday People: 'Sometimes there are people in your life and it's just not working out the way you thought. We'll always be in each other's life but just as friends.

'We went on a road trip the other week together. Now I can't get away with ditching sessions as he's quite strict with me. I'm happily single.

'I've got the dogs and lots going on professionally. It's nice to be on my own for a bit.I have not even thought about dating. I will give it a few months.'

Gemma previously revealed plans to have children with Olly.

She said her broodiness ramped up a notch when she was introduced to her former Hollyoaks co-star Mikyla Dodd's little one.

She explained: 'I am a bit broody after seeing Mikyla baby. I always said I'd have a baby at 32 – my mum had me at 32 – so hopefully we'll do that in a few years if God allows it.'

Meanwhile, along with playing Carly Hope on Emmerdale, Gemma is also keeping busy with her movie career and recently filmed a Bollywood movie.