Fashion Trendsetter: Gemma Atkinson

Gemma Atkinson Biography

Gemma Louise Atkinson (born 16 November 1984 in Bury, Greater Manchester) is an English glamour model, and is also an actress.

Originally from Manchester, Atkinson took her GCSE's at Castlebrook High School before becoming a commercial and photographic model.

Atkinson rose to fame playing Lisa Hunter on the teenage soap opera Hollyoaks. She and Marcus Patric (Ben Davies in Hollyoaks) subsequently appeared in a spin-off series called Hollyoaks: Let Loose, in which their characters start a new life living together in Chester. This has been followed up with Hollyoaks: In the City, in which their characters return home and set up again in Liverpool.

Atkinson played Goldie Lookin Chain's love interest in the music video for the single R'n'B and featured the releases cover.

She has appeared as a contestant on Celebrity Weakest Link with Marcus Patric in December 2006, ITV1's Soapstar Superstar, reaching the last four stage and Celebrity Masterchef.

In early 2006, Atkinson underwent breast enlargement surgery, which took her bra size to a 34D. She said in an interview that she lost weight due to a fitness regime but her bust slowly declined. The surgery then gave them the original shape they once were." She is also a UK dress size 10, which means her waist is in the region of 27 inches.

Since launching her parallel career as a glamour model, Atkinson has appeared in provocative photoshoots in lingerie and swimwear, including non-nude topless shots, for men's magazines such as Arena, FHM, Loaded, Maxim, Zoo Weekly and Nuts. In October 2006 she appeared in three of the aforementioned magazines in one month, becoming one of the most prolific celebrity glamour models in the UK. In November 2006, it was announced by Zoo Weekly that Atkinson had agreed to lend her name to their regular "sex and relationships column."

In May 2007, Atkinson was announced as the "glamourous new face" of the British Grand Prix and the official "mascot" of the "hi-octane" championship at Silverstone on July 8. She was the face of the 2007 Tour de France. She has most recently been seen as the new face of the Lingerie chain La Senza, but recently has been replaced by Czech model Petra Nemcova. Her 2008 calendar was shot in Thailand, and will be released on November 1st 2007. Gemma has stated she is proud of the more natural look of this calendar, as opposed to the glamarously stylised look of the 2007 product. In October 2007, Atkinson was elected the new face of Ultimo's D-G range.

Gemma split with Manchester United footballer Cristiano Ronaldo in July 2007. Gemma has remarked that her new boyfriend "Is semi-famous".

Gemma's previous relationships include former Emmerdale actor Cleveland Campbell and Wigan Athletic footballer Marcus Bent.

Gemma has also been linked with Home and Away Actor Mark Furze and Newcastle United footballer Alan Smith.

Gemma Atkinson