'Christmas means more now than it used to'

In our gorgeous festive shoot, Lauren Goodger opens up about her first family Christmas with daughter Larose, overcoming life’s challenges and her plans for 2022

- GEMMA MCCARTNEY

This year has been quite the ride for former TOWIE star Lauren Goodger. The 35-year-old announced her pregnancy exclusively with new back in January, before becoming a mum to her beautiful baby girl Larose in July.

And although 2021 has been magical for so many reasons, and Lauren is clearly thriving as a new mum, the past 12 months have provided more than their fair share of drama for the star.

The Essex girl had a scare in November when Larose, now five months, was rushed to hospital after being taken ill.

Speaking about the incident for the first time, Lauren, who says she was initially told by doctors that her daughter had sepsis, revealed, “It scared the life out of me. It was really worrying.”

Thankfully, Larose made a full recovery and her bout of sickness turned out to be the result of a flu-like illness.

But in the midst of their daughter’s health worries, boyfriend Charles Drury, 24, revealed on Instagram that he and Lauren had split.

Now back together after the break they needed, the family are excited about their first Christmas in their new house.

And despite being exhausted, Lauren is clearly looking forward to our shoot at her home the day after our interview.

“I’m so excited to have my hair and make-up done, it’s like a luxury,” she says. “And it’s so lovely to get proper photos! I can keep this magazine and show Larose one day.”

Talk quickly turns to festive plans and traditions, as she reveals her close encounter with Father Christmas as a child, and tells us she still has presents to buy for her little girl.