'I never thought I'd be a bride'
New UK|March 25, 2024
Samantha Chawner, who found fame when she auditioned on The X Factor, shares her unexpected love story with new
AMANDA STOCKS
'I never thought I'd be a bride'

As Samantha walked down the aisle to marry her fiancé, Matthew A Parkinson, the strains of Shania Twain's From This Moment On filling her ears, she was overwhelmed with emotion.

Having never believed she'd be a bride, the 36-year-old said she felt "a million dollars" in her elegant Wed2Be ivory lace and tulle wedding dress and 3m veil.

As Matthew held out his hand to her, with their friends and his family cheering them on, she knew she'd found the love of her life.

To top it off, after many years of battling with her weight and being branded part of Britain's "fattest and laziest family", Samantha had managed to shed 10st for her big day, which took place at Albert Halls in Bolton.

"It felt magical," she says. "As I walked down the aisle towards Matthew in my beautiful dress, everything that had happened before floated away. I was ready for my new life as Matthew's wife.

"I never thought I'd be a bride or meet my soulmate, but when I met Matthew, we clicked at once, and we've never looked back." Samantha, the eldest daughter of the Chawner family, became known after her sister Emma, now 34, auditioned for The X Factor in 2007, singing Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On. Simon Cowell branded her a "flump" and said she sang like a baby.

Her tearful reaction prompted parents Audrey and Philip and sister Samantha to burst into the audition room and challenge Simon. The video went viral.

Two years later, Emma returned to audition again, this time with Samantha. They told Simon the family had been evicted because of Emma's singing. They sang Mariah Carey's Hero but were once again rejected by the judges.

This story is from the March 25, 2024 edition of New UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the March 25, 2024 edition of New UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM NEW UKView All
THE ROCKY ROAD TO LOVE
New UK

THE ROCKY ROAD TO LOVE

It's an emotional journey for the characters in this new sitcom

time-read
3 mins  |
December 23, 2024
'I want Larose's Christmas to be amazing'
New UK

'I want Larose's Christmas to be amazing'

Lauren Goodger chats about cosy festive celebrations with her daughter and how she's considering adoption

time-read
4 mins  |
December 23, 2024
George wouldn't want me to be miserable'
New UK

George wouldn't want me to be miserable'

Gogglebox's Linda McGarry tells us what motivates her to live the best life she can since the death of her son George Gilbey

time-read
4 mins  |
December 23, 2024
BELLE'S SANTA PAWS SURPRISE
New UK

BELLE'S SANTA PAWS SURPRISE

Belle Dingle gets her Christmas wish as her beloved dog Piper returns, while events take a dark turn for Marlon in Emmerdale

time-read
3 mins  |
December 23, 2024
SWEET SUCCESS
New UK

SWEET SUCCESS

Enjoy the finest fruit desserts this season– we wish you all the very zest

time-read
3 mins  |
December 23, 2024
IS YOUR MIGRAINE SEASONAL?
New UK

IS YOUR MIGRAINE SEASONAL?

Certain foods, such as coffee and chocolate, are known to trigger migraines in some people. But there's another possible culprit — the weather!

time-read
2 mins  |
December 23, 2024
Woman poisoned boyfriend's iced tea for $30m inheritance scam
New UK

Woman poisoned boyfriend's iced tea for $30m inheritance scam

Ina Thea Kenoyer, 48, turned to murder to get cash that never existed

time-read
4 mins  |
December 23, 2024
'I was trapped under water - my broken ribs saved me'
New UK

'I was trapped under water - my broken ribs saved me'

Lou Harrand, 51, was on her honeymoon in Thailand when the catastrophic Boxing Day tsunami struck in 2004. Twenty years on, she tells New how it changed her life

time-read
5 mins  |
December 23, 2024
It's a wake-up call for Wayne'
New UK

It's a wake-up call for Wayne'

After Coleen Rooney's huge success on I'm A Celeb, a source tells new that her proud husband Wayne is hoping to spend some quality time with her

time-read
4 mins  |
December 23, 2024
'I feel lucky I never had sex on TV'
New UK

'I feel lucky I never had sex on TV'

Married At First Sight's Emma Barnes tells new about life after the show and what goes on behind the scenes

time-read
4 mins  |
December 23, 2024