Judi Love reflects on being body-shamed in her youth and reveals she ‘never went for pretty boys’

Judi Love has reflected on being body-shamed when she was younger and trying to date in a candid debate on Thursday’s episode of Loose Women.

The comedian, 40, said boys she had tried to date had rejected her due to her weight when she was a size 14, leading her to ‘never go for the pretty boys. 

Discussing if women were less likely to go for looks, she said:  ‘I was a plus size girl when I was younger, I was a size 14 which I don’t see as plus size. Guys would be like, “you’re nice looking but you’re a bit big”, or “I don’t usually go for a big girl”‘.

‘So I never really went for the pretty boys, I went for the boys that were quite unique, they held their own, they didn’t have to speak up or be the loud one at the parties.

‘They were charming and I think I’m still about the charmingness and I’m not all about the looks.’

Judi has previously spoken about being subjected to racist bullying and abuse over her weight.

In February, she told the Loose Women panel: ‘Whether it’s come to my complexion, being called darky or blackie, or being called the N-word, or frog eyes and you know the ultimate one is fat.

‘I remember the first time I was, I was called the N-word I was five years old and I was bending down doing up my mum’s shoelaces and someone drove past the shop and shouted it out.

‘I never knew what it meant so again in that for the first time. 

‘It had a lifelong effect but like I said early adversity. I always tried to bring it into a positive light and look, look, you know, what can,   

‘Any argument probably when I was younger [being called fat] that would be the first thing they use.

‘As I got older, I tried to use any adversity, to my advantage and and and i think he’s done quite well for me in that,’ she continued. 

‘The reality is, I’m a big girl I’m a fluffy girl. I’m always going to be a bit of a meaty girl but I try to not let anybody else’s point of view kind of affect me.   

Last month Judi said she was determined to continue her mother and father’s legacy after her dad passed away last week, praising her parents for giving her a ‘world of opportunities’. 

She shared a heartfelt social media post in which she said she was ‘heartbroken and empty’ after her dad died.

She told that her loss has given her ‘so much compassion’ for those who have lost loved ones throughout the pandemic and that for the moment she’s just taking ‘each day as it comes’.    

‘For me I’m at a place where I just take each day as it comes’, she said. ‘I just think to myself, I had these two parents who were migrants, came from Jamaica and I have a world of opportunities. I meet amazing people and I just want to continue that legacy.’ 

Judi had been caring for her dad for the past year and said she’s still in shock at the death, which happened while she had taken time off to spend with her family.  

‘It’s still very sensitive and very raw, just the feeling of shock really’, said Judi. ‘I took a social media beak anyway because I wanted to spend time with the kids and there was so much going on in the world. 

‘I’ve been looking after my dad for a year now and I just haven’t had any time off. I think one of my last [social media] posts was spend it with loved ones and continue to create those memories.   

‘So having the time off and that happening, it just reminds us how precious time is and it’s just made me have so much compassion for those who have lost loved ones over this year with everything that’s going on. 

‘I’m so grateful to the team, you guys, and just the people who have sent so much love on social media. ‘