Gemma, 34, may make a living out of being ‘plus-sized’, but Chloe, 33, claims she’s not as tough as she makes out.
Writing in column for Star magazine, Chloe said: “Gemma said last week that she was worried about eating in public.
“When she’s with me, she’ll hide her food under the counter because she’s so worried someone will photograph her. It’s ridiculous.
“So what if she isn’t size eight? The girl’s allowed to eat! People really need to stop worrying about her size. It’s nobody else’s business.”
Former car saleswoman Gemma now runs a successful award-winning plus-size fashion range, and recently collaborated with high street giant Evans.
It’s not just insecurities about her figure getting Gemma down this week – the self-declared Queen of Essex was accused of bullying after she and fellow TOWIE star Vas Morgan got into an explosive argument during Sunday night’s episode.
During the row even Gemma’s best friend Bobby Norris turned on her, accusing the blonde of ‘throwing him under the bus’.
But former TOWIE star Amy Childs, 23, has leapt to Gemma’s defence, insisting she was the one being targeted. She told new! online: “I felt really sorry for [her].
“Bobby is supposed to be her best mate on the show, but he never has her back! Gemma is loyal, she will always stick up for a mate.
“It’s awful, I nearly had to switch it off. I hate bullies and watching three people [Vas, Bobby and Lauren Pope] bully Gemma was just out of order.”