2019-09-30_Hello!_Magazine_UK

USIVE: ‘IT’S A GIRL!’

IA BRIGHT

rightwasinthe

astweekasthe

mum-to-be

ivelytohello!

irl.

r happynewsat

artyheldinher

den,infrontof

ngDenise Van

s entrepreneur

h,alsopregnant

littlegirl!”the

formerTheOnlyWayIs Essexstar

toldhello!, whowereonhandto

capturethemomentthather

guestsfoundout, with family

membersansweringquestionsto

revealthecodefora padlockona

chestfullofpinkheliumballoons.

“Iwasn’tbotheredeitherway,

girlorboy,butI dothinkthatnow

I knowit’sa girlit’sthatlittlebit

morespecial.She’llbemybest

friend.MeandMumarereallyclose

andI loveourrelationship– I’m

hopingthatmeandmydaughter

havesomethingasstrong.”

Themomentthepinkballoons

camefloatingupfromthechest,

thepartyerupted.MumDebbie

Douglas– whotheweekbefore

hadtiedtheknotwithDave,her

partnerof 40 years,andheldtheir

receptionin thesame spot –

jumpedupanddownwithher

armsintheair,as Lydiagotcuddles

fromhernan,thencongratulations

andhugsfromeverybodyelse.

“Todayhasbeenamazingandit

hasmadeitsoworthwhile not

looking[atthe genderbefore

now],”saysLydia,whoannounced

lastmonththatshehadsplitfrom

thebaby’sfather.“I’vehadthat

envelope in my house since

Wednesday.Itwasstaringand

screamingatmetoopenit butI

didn’t– I heldout!AndI’mso

glad.Tosharethiswithmyfriends

andfamilyandtogetthatreaction

offeveryonemakesit allthemore

exciting.Andthesun’sout.It’s

goingtobehappy,sunnybaby.”

Guestsweretreatedtoa feast,

witha tablethelength ofthe

marqueeoverflowingwithfood

includinga wheelofvegancheese

adornedwithfigsandtropical

fruits,coldcuts,falafel,olivesand

hummus. A white A-frame

decoratedwithpink,whiteand

blueflowersheldminicheesecakes

toppedwithpinkandbluefruits,

andbucketsoficecontainedfizz

andbeerforthegrown-ups.

PLANSFORA PRINCESS

Nowpreparationscangetfully

underwayforthebaby’sarrival.

AndLydia,29,whois inthemiddle

ofanextensionandrenovation

projectonherhome,knowsjust

howtodecoratethenursery.

“Ican’twaittodecorateher

room,”sheenthuses.“I’llmakeit

allpink,a properprincess...I

don’tcareif it’stacky.Mykidis

definitelynotgoingtobegender

neutral.I’mhavingtutus,flowery

dresses...I wantmygirltobevery,

verygirly.”

Onethingshehasn’tdecided

onis thename.“I hada boyname

set,onehundredpercent.For

girlsI’vegota listbutthere’s

nothingI’mreallyconcreteabout.”

Shebeams.“ButI’vestillgotfive

monthstofigureoutwhat

nameI’mgoingtogiveher.” H

Lydia with TOWIE

pal and fellow

mum-to-be Lucy

Mecklenburgh, and

(top right) revealing

to mum Debbie,

sisters Romana

and Georgia and

dad Dave that

she’s having a girl

REPORT:ALEXANDRAWILBY

PHOTOS:JAMESROBINSON

Toseethevideoofthemomentthat

Lydiarevealsshe’shavinga girl,visit

hellomagazine.com.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING: VICTORIA HUTTON

Y STAR PALS AS SHE REVEALS

EXPECTING A DAUGHTER

L

ydiaBr

pinkla

thrilled

revealedexclus

she’s expectinga gi

Lydiasharedhe

agender-revealpa

parents’Essexgard

friends includin

Outenandfitness

LucyMecklenburg

withherfirstchild.

“I’mhavingal

formerThe Only W

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