Real Bodies: ‘Comfortable naked? After a couple of drinks, yeah!’

Jamie Rigby, 26, Chef, Blackpool.Height – 5’8, Weight – 11.8 stone“I lost a bit of weight recently and that’s given me more confidence, so when I saw the opportunity to do this page I just thought why not? I may never get to do it again.”Have you struggled with your body and accepting your appearance?

Completely. I’ve never ever been skinny. Growing up I was a little bit chubby and during high school I got a little bit chubbier and got bullied for it. I ate more then. It was a vicious cycle. I got myself out of it mentally and just kind of learned to love what I’ve got.

Do you believe that there’s a lot of pressure on gay men to look good?

Yes. Usually if there was a gay person on TV they would be the camp, skinny person with no fat on them whatsoever, or they would be the sort of stereotypical bear with the handle moustache. It’s nicer nowadays that there is more representation for the people who aren’t on those two opposite ends of the scale.

Do you feel comfortable naked?

After a couple drinks, yeah. I didn’t used to at all, I used to hate it. I’d never be topless. I’m still not usually topless in public, and I wouldn’t take a shirtless selfie, but the occasional nip slip on Snapchat depending on who it is.

Have you posted shirtless selfies online?

I’ve taken them but I wouldn’t post them on Twitter or anything like that. Maybe if I lost a little bit more weight or toned up.

How important is body for you when you’re looking at partners?

It’s not a priority for me really. I’ve never expected anyone to have a six pack or be toned or anything. I prefer a guy’s personality. I know it sounds really cheesy and cliché but you can be the prettiest person in the world, but if you can’t talk to them then there’s no relationship there at all.

Would it make you self-conscious if your partner had a better body?

No, I don’t think so. If I can get it, I’ll take it!

Diet:

I work for Nando’s, so I have that like 6 or 7 times a week. Obviously, it’s not burgers every day because that would not work out. I’m not gonna lie, I don’t really have a diet plan. I try and eat healthy when I can. I’ve cut out bread and chips and recently fizzy drinks, so that’s a start.

Guilty Pleasures:

All the stereotypical usual things really – pizza, burgers, chocolate, and cider!

Ideal man:

The obvious one I’d have to go for is Russell Tovey. I love him to bits! Always have, always will. It’s a figure I’ll never achieve but it’s nice to see it on him.

Manscaping

I do what I can. I’d never be bald or anything, down there. I prefer a bit of hair on myself and the guys I’m with. There’s not a forest down there, but it’s not completely hairless. In porn you never see a single hair on anyone, so as soon as you get into bed with anyone it’s kind of like ‘Oh, hair’.

Top body product

I use this charcoal hand wash, because my job involves a lot of grease. It gets all the dirt and bacteria out, which is essential for my job.

Clothes

When I was bigger I used to wear larger clothes to give the illusion that I wasn’t as big, but then I realised when I was slimming down that if you actually have them more fitted, you look slimmer. I feel better in slightly tighter clothing now.

More Real Bodies:

‘I don’t have the perfect body but I’m proud of it’

‘I have HIV – and I’m going on with life and looking after my body’