Christine McGuinness is absolutely radiant these days, and who could blame her? With three joyful kids, a smooth co-parenting journey post-split, a buzzing TV career, and let's be honest – she's looking more fabulous than ever. Christine, 36, has seen her world transform in recent years, from her autism diagnosis to her high-profile separation from comedian Paddy McGuinness, not to mention her foray into impactful TV documentaries.
With each year, her confidence soars, her public presence blossoms, and naturally, the spotlight intensifies – a challenge she acknowledges with grace. "I'm extremely lucky," she shares in our exclusive heart-to-heart. "Of course, it's difficult when it feels like everyone, the cat and the dog have an opinion about your life. But overall, grateful is where I'm at."
Hailing from Blackpool but raised in Liverpool, Christine found out four years ago that she's on the autism spectrum, sharing this trait with her children - twins Leo and Penelope, 11, and Felicity, eight. Already known from The Real Housewives Of Cheshire, her autism became a talking point, yet she's been remarkably open about it, especially in documentaries like the BBC's Christine McGuinness: Unmasking My Autism, reports the Mirror.
Christine's social media presence may lead some to believe that "she must be fine, she's always happy and smiling" as they browse through her glamorous photos from red-carpet events and fashion shoots. However, she admits that she'd like to be more authentic on her socials, but only gradually and as people become "a bit more open-minded and kinder".
"People will watch a TV show, see the real me and understand. But with social media, everyone holds back a little more," she reflects. "It's hard because it's a battle to help people understand that you can be capable of having a relationship and being successful at work, and you can also be autistic. So there are going to be areas where you need extra support. That's maybe not something anyone wants to shout about because they want to look like they're doing well, they're independent. But the reality is, I wouldn't be doing everything I do if I didn't have that help and support."
While we might get a few more glimpses of Christine's reality on her socials this year, one thing we won't see is her embarking on any serious romantic relationships. "I have absolutely no romance goals whatsoever," she chuckles. "It's not the right time for me to have a relationship while my children are so young."
Reflecting on her journey from reality TV to self-discovery, Christine has come a long way since her 'Real Housewives' days, admitting she "wasn't myself at all" and felt "uncomfortable and shy." Braving new challenges like Strictly The Real Full Monty in 2021 to strip for charity, and her enlightening 2024 adventure Pilgrimage: The Road Through North Wales, Christine has embraced personal growth. She viewed Pilgrimage as a transformative experience where she could be her real self, craving more of such authentic experiences.
"I found the Real Full Monty really overwhelming because I was performing in front of loads of people," she disclosed. "Pilgrimage was a journey of self-growth. I wanted to be there and didn't want to leave the group like I normally would when I'm working. I stayed and ate with everyone, and that was new for me."
However, navigating fame differs vastly from controlling your image on TV, as Christine experienced amidst public interest during her split from Paddy, 51, in summer 2022, post their sincere BBC documentary on family and autism. Two-and-a-half years after their split, the couple is still sharing a home and has just enjoyed an "autism-friendly" Christmas with their little ones. On navigating co-parenting during the festive season, she shared, "It was as normal as possible because our priority will always be the children. We still share our home and together or apart, we'll always try and keep Christmas familiar for the children, because it's all about them."
Their commitment to their children Leo, Penelope, and Felicity's happiness is palpable. "We have a planner in the kitchen between me, Patrick and the children, with the dates of any events we've got. We put it on there and try not to clash with each other. It's the same with family members coming over," she elaborated. "We have to plan in advance to make sure no one's clashing and there are not too many people around at once, because it just upsets the children."
Christine beams with pride as she delves into her recent collaboration with the LEGO Group. They've made toy history by launching the first-ever toys adorned with the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower on a lanyard, representing those who might need an extra dose of patience or assistance.
"It was a real 'wow' moment," she says with a smile. Christine recounts the immense importance of representation, revealing, "The campaign's about representation for us and the conditions we have. When I first spoke about the twins being autistic it was front-page news. I'd like it to be normalised. I lived most of my life confused, wondering why everyone else seemed to be OK and I wasn't. My diagnosis changed my life but that didn't show to everyone else. So, by wearing a lanyard in those places that I'm struggling, people will recognise that I might need a little more patience or help."
As for the McGuinness household, Christine shares insight into their version of "normal," noting her children aren't quite aware of their parents' celebrity status. Her children were intrigued when she authored a children's book featuring autistic characters. "The best reaction I got was when I wrote a children's book that included autistic characters and they thought I was 'cool' for being an author," Christine chuckles.
"I don't think they fully understand that what their mummy and daddy do is a bit different to some of the parents at school. I love how innocent they are and the fact they don't care. If anyone came to the house who's also on the television, our children wouldn't bat an eyelid. I don't think they understand what a celebrity is!".
For more information, visit lego.com to find out more about the LEGO Group’s latest initiative
