Originally published 5 September 2012;
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At the time, they and their parents, Audrey, 61, and Philip, 57, had just been evicted from their council house after neighbours complained about Emma’s singing – she’d been rehearsing for The X Factor until 3am, even though she’d become an object of ridicule when she first appeared on the talent show the year before in 2007, when Simon Cowell told her: “You sing like a baby!”
At the time, Samantha, 24, was on Job Seeker’s Allowance and Emma, 22, was getting £58 hardship fund per week, while she trained to be a hairdresser. Audrey and Philip were on benefits, too. They claimed no one wanted to employ them when they saw how large they were.
Simon Cowell told her: “You sing like a baby!”
Instead, they loafed around at home, watching TV and eating.
But fast-forward to summer 2012 and the Chawner sisters have finally got their act together – they’re exercising regularly, working hard in stable jobs and loving life. They’re also involved in a reality TV show to be broadcast in Japan, where they have a huge fan base.
Undeniably, they still have weight issues – but they’re addressing those with sensible diets and regular exercise. And Samantha now has a full-time job as a waitress, while Emma works as a mobile hairdresser, seeing five or six clients a week. When it’s quiet at work, she volunteers in a charity shop a couple of days a week.
Samantha says: “We felt we had to prove to everyone that we’re not fat layabouts. We want to get on in life. It’s hard, though – when we’re out, people still yell: ‘It’s that fat family’ or ‘the scroungers.’ But I’ve learnt to ignore them – I feel really positive now and I know it’s not true – I pay my taxes just like everyone else.
“I’ve held down my job for over a year now and I love it. It’s boosted my self-esteem so much – and I’m good at it. I’m studying for an NVQ in Food And Hygiene and, hopefully, I’ll get a job in a hotel one day – that’s my dream. I meet lots of lovely people and I’ve made new friends.
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“I love that I earn my own money – I’ve even got a bit saved up. Eventually, I hope to have enough to move out – but we’re such a close family, I’m not in any hurry. I don’t have a boyfriend because I want to concentrate on my job – but I’d like to get married and have four kids one day.”
Emma says: “I like working – I get a lot of job satisfaction from it. And I’ve got some lovely clients. I’m not on any benefits at all any more – anything I spend comes from me. If people call me a scrounger, I ignore them – I know I can hold my head high.”
The one area of their lives the girls admit still needs working on is their size. They’d both like to be a size 12, but are still overweight, despite insisting they now eat healthily. When Closer first met them in March 2009, they admitted to gorging on bacon sandwiches, pie and mash and biscuits. At her biggest, Sam, who’s 5ft 6, weighed 28st, while 5ft 3 Emma was 19st.
I’m not on any benefits at all any more – anything I spend comes from me.
Now, however, Emma claims: “We both pretty much eat the same – a banana and yoghurt for breakfast, salad for lunch and a WeightWatchers cottage pie for dinner.”
Sam has managed to lose weight before – when she went to an American boot camp from November 2010 until May 2011 for a TV show, she got down to under 20st from over 24st. Now she’s 21st 2lbs and a size 24. Meanwhile, Emma, who briefly worked at a gym, now weighs 18st 6lbs and is a size 20.
Neither of them would consider gastric surgery – both branding it “cheating.” And they say they exercise regularly – walking their two dogs three times a day and swimming at least twice a week.
“We’d like to get down to a size 12,” says Emma. “We’re doing it slowly, but it’ll come off eventually – we just mustn’t give up.”
Sam adds: “I go on slimming club websites and I’m hoping to see a dietician soon to see if there’s anything else I can do.”
Both Samantha and Emma are spending time at home at the moment to look after their mum, Audrey, as they’re worried about her health. She’s already beaten breast cancer once, but doctors are concerned it may have come back. She was awaiting the results of a mammogram when Closer went to press.
But on a more positive note, in September, they’re doing a 10km walk for the Sue Ryder Care charity with dad Philip – something they’d never imagined doing a few years ago.
“We’ll get such a sense of achievement from doing it,” says Sam. “I know I’m getting there with everything. I feel more confident and I’ve got much higher self- esteem. I know there isn’t a miracle cure but, as long as I stay confident and positive, I’m sure I’ll hit my targets.”