Gemma Collins: I was punched in the face for being too popular at school

Gemma Collins was punched in the face by school bullies for being too popular.

The 39-year-old reality star has been inundated with messages from trolls since finding fame on \'TOWIE\', but during her younger years her personality led to bullies attacking her, making her want to move schools.

Speaking on her \'The Gemma Collins Podcast\', she said: "I never got bullied because of my weight, I actually wasn\'t overweight at school. I used to be bullied because I was quite popular and I was quite out there.

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"Basically, I had to move schools in the end because I was bullied quite bad. One girl even punched me in my face and stole my purse."

Gemma never let the bullies tear her down as it\'s her signature personality that has helped her to rise to stardom.

The reality star has also opened up about a scary incident recently where she feared a "river rat" would bite her, after things went wrong when she rented a rowing boat in Windsor for a day out with her nephews and a pal.

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Gemma recalled: "My friend Ryan thought it would be funny to crash the boat into rocks. He says he didn\'t know the rocks were there. Obviously, in the 100 degree heat at the time, I was not convinced. I said, \'You\'ve done this on purpose!\'

"You can imagine it. It was so hot I had to jump into the lake with my nephews. I was screaming, I thought some sort of snake was going to bite me, or a river rat. But I\'ve gotta say, I absolutely enjoyed it."

But Gemma plucked up some courage after realising Queen Elizabeth - who has a residence at Windsor Castle - may have swam in the same spot.

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She continued: "Then I started thinking, maybe the queen has swum in the lake before. And if it\'s good enough for the queen, it\'s good enough for me."