THE ONLY WAY IS UP... my first celeb bump cast!

When Love Island 2016 winner and The Only Way is Essex star Cara De La Hoyde tweeted "Can anyone recommend where to get a pregnancy body cast done? Something like this but decorated 👶🏽 thanks ✌🏼" on 17 September 2017 I couldn't help but get a little excited!  I tweeted a reply and emailed Cara's agent.  Everything moved very quickly from there on in and, just under a week later (on my birthday I should add!), Cara's Rock the Bump pregnant belly casting session was all booked in ahead of her 30 November due date.

I have to admit I was a tad nervous as I arrived at Cara's home on the morning of Saturday 4 November as I wasn't quite sure what to expect but as soon as she opened her door to me it became clear I had nothing to worry about.  Cara was really looking forward to her bump cast and was just like any other mum-to-be, chatting to me about her pregnancy and preparations for the arrival of her and fellow Love Island winner and TOWIE star Nathan Massey's precious baby boy.

As a huge TOWIE fan it was funny to hear Cara on the phone during her casting talking to Nathan and to chat to Cara about friends of hers who were also pregnant or had recently had babies who were also stars of the ITVBe reality TV show!  Cara also took to Instagram and live streamed her Rock the Bump casting session which was picked up and featured in OK! Magazine online almost immediately.

​Cara opted to have a full bump cast including her pregnant belly and breasts.  It was so lovely to work with such a beautiful young woman with such a positive attitude about her body and the changes it had gone through during pregnancy.  As is the case with each and every Rock the Bump belly casting it was a real privilege to play a small part in Cara's pregnancy journey and to create a unique memento of her first baby's first home.

After an overnight stay in Southend Cara's bump cast is now back home with me at Rock the Bump HQ in Bournemouth where it has been trimmed and reinforced and is now drying out before I get to work on smoothing, sanding and painting.  I can't quite believe how tiny and perfect it is - the finished piece is going to look stunning!  I'm aiming for a quick turnaround on this one as I would like to get the bump cast back to Cara soon after baby makes an appearance.  I wonder if I'll have time or if her little man has other ideas... Watch this space!