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Mollie Pearce has admitted she ‘spent a lifetime with my body betraying me’ prior to her life-changing bowel surgery as she opened up about her newfound confidence.
The Traitors star, who is currently preparing to take part in this year’s series of Dancing On Ice, was diagnosed with the bowel condition ulcerative colitis, which causes inflammation and ulcers in the colon, when she was just 11-years-old.
Speaking candidly about how the stoma surgery changed her life the model, 22, told The Sun: ‘I struggled to leave the house, because I had bad anxiety about not making it to the toilet in time, which I sometimes didn’t when I was really ill.’
Mollie, who was also born with several fingers missing on her right hand, underwent seven hours of surgery to remove her colon and insert a stoma when she was 18.
Revealing how it was hard to accept her condition, she confessed: ‘I spent a lifetime with my body betraying me, because it was always fighting against me, and even though I still have days when I struggle mentally, I’m now celebrating new life and new health.’
Mollie explained that even just going out for dinner and drinks feels amazing as prior to her surgery she wouldn’t have been able to.
The Traitors’ Mollie Pearce has admitted she ‘spent a lifetime with my body betraying me’ before life-changing bowel surgery as she opened up on her newfound confidence
Mollie left every viewer wanting to step through the TV screen to give her a hug after she was betrayed by Harry Clark in The Traitors’ final last January
She also would never have been able to take part in shows like The Traitors or Dancing On Ice as she described the whole experience as completely crazy.
Mollie left every viewer wanting to step through the TV screen to give her a hug after she was betrayed by Harry Clark in The Traitors’ final last January.
The model missed out on an impressive £95,150 prize fund – which went to Harry after playing the game extremely well.
While viewers were convinced she had developed romantic feelings for Harry, now Mollie insists the pair never thought about being anything more than friends.
She confirmed: ‘No. I don’t think we were even thinking about it, to be honest. It was such a big talking point just because of the way the end played out.’
At the time of filming both Mollie and Harry were in relationships, with the latter still dating Connor Maynard’s sister Anna.
However Mollie and her long-term boyfriend Max Backwell split in October, explaining at the time that the break-up was ‘amicable.’
After loving each other for over three years, the couple decided to break up, but Mollie has confirmed they remain good friends.
The Traitors star was diagnosed with the bowel condition ulcerative colitis, which causes inflammation and ulcers in the colon, when she was just 11-years-old
Revealing how it was hard to accept her condition, she confessed: ‘I spent a lifetime with my body betraying me, because it was always fighting against me’
While viewers were convinced she had developed romantic feelings for Harry, now Mollie insists the pair never thought about being anything more than friends
Mollie told MailOnline: ‘After a number of happy years together Max and I have decided to part ways. It was amicable and we’re both still friends.’
A source added: ‘Mollie and Max loved their time together but they’re both young and the relationship they shared reached a natural end.
‘They both support each other in everything they do and Max is really excited to watch Mollie on Dancing On Ice given he knows how much the opportunity means to her.’
Last week Mollie revealed she still ‘cringes’ watching the final episode, admitting that it’s ‘not a fun watch’.
Appearing on BBC Breakfast ahead of the new series, host Jon Kay asked her: ‘Do you still cringe with your head in your hands when you watch that moment again?’
Mollie joked: ‘I think I have probably seen 100 times. People love to show that clip. I am becoming a bit numb to it at this point…Yeah, it’s not a fun watch!’
At the time of filming both Mollie and Harry were in relationships, with the latter dating Connor Maynard’s sister Anna (pictured in November)
Mollie and her long-term boyfriend Max Backwell split in October, explaining at the time that the break-up was ‘amicable’
Despite not winning the show, taking part in the competition has completely changed her life – and she’s been able to raise awareness to causes close to her heart.
She added: ‘I mean, this time last year I was a health care assistant and I haven’t been back to that job since the day of the final.
‘It’s done a 360 on my life if I’m honest. I’m forever grateful, it’s been a massive part of my life. It’s changed everything for me.
‘It’s giving me a massive platform to spread awareness when it comes to having a limb difference, having IBD and a stoma bag. It’s been really impactful for me.’