EXCLUSIVE: Presenter and mum of five is showcasing her new look which our sources tell us that there is something big coming in the pipeline
They say a new hairstyle can mark the start of a new chapter, and that certainly seems to be the case for Stacey Solomon, who has unveiled a dramatic new brunette look.
The mum-of-five told fans she feels “really different” after swapping her blonde locks for glossy chestnut tresses, after years of bleaching her hair.
Her glam new look marks the start of a new chapter for the 36-year-old, who is reportedly set to quit her beloved home, Pickle Cottage, and who last week hinted at an exciting career move after auditioning for her “dream job”.
It marks a welcome turnaround for the Sort Your Life Out presenter, who has faced months of speculation about her marriage.
Stacey, who shares three children – Rex, seven, Rose, four, and three-year-old Belle – with actor hubby Joe Swash, has been blighted by rumours her marriage is on the rocks.
But according to our source, the prospect of an exciting new work venture, coupled with her glam makeover, signals the turning of a page for the much-loved star.
“Stacey wants a fresh start,” said our source. “She’s already got a new look and she’s hoping to have a new house, too. She is also desperate to put these marriage rumours behind her. She’s got a new project in the pipeline, so this is a big moment for her.”
Stacey took to social media last week to show off her new brunette locks, saying, “Yeah, I just woke up one day and was like, ‘I can’t do this bleach any more. I’m going to dye it! I want my glossy hair back.
“I’m really happy with it. It does feel very different. I do feel really, really different. I’m still getting used to it, but it feels much better and easier to maintain.”
The star’s last major image overhaul came four years ago, ahead of her wedding to Joe in July 2022, when she went from bright red to blonde.
At the time, she said it felt “so lovely” to be blonde again, after opting for a striking vivid red look. But they say a change is as good as a rest, and Stacey clearly felt it was time to update her look again.
Last week the TV host, who is currently filming the third series of her family reality show Stacey & Joe, also revealed she is giddy with excitement after auditioning for a secret new job.
“I can’t believe they even thought of me,” she said. “Do you know when you’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, they’re letting me have a go at this.’ It was just the coolest thing ever and honestly, that experience of just auditioning will forever be in my mind and I was so scared to do it.”
While she didn’t reveal what the job involves, she told fans she feels really proud of herself, saying, “Never give up on your dreams and always try and go for it, even when it feels intimidating and daunting. Just go for it!”
Her news comes after it was reported the family are planning to swap Pickle Cottage for a vast, eight-bedroom mansion they’ve “fallen in love” with.
The property – also in Essex – is said to come with 30-acres of land, a pool and a lake.
“It’s a fresh start,” a source told us. “Pickle Cottage has been a place where Stacey and Joe’s relationship has been up and down. As well as lovely times, they’ve had quite a tough time there, too.”
The new pad is said to cost almost double the value of their current £1.3 million home, but DIY fan Stacey reportedly can’t wait to give the country pile a stunning makeover.
The relocation news will be a happy distraction from the reports their marriage is on the rocks. Rumours there might be trouble in paradise first started swirling in March, after former The X Factor star Stacey was pictured leaving BBC’s studios without her wedding ring.
On Mother’s Day, she did little to silence the chatter when she posted a sweet family snap – but without 44-year-old Joe or her ring.
But in June, she hit back at the gossip, saying, “Who cares if the whole world is like, ‘Oh, they’re on the brink of divorce’? Being in the public eye I think creates certain pressures, but not on our relationship, because half of the time what they’re saying… if we know it’s not true, who cares?”
However, Stacey – who also has sons Zachary, 18, and Leighton, 14, and from previous relationships – admitted her marriage does have its fair share of ups and downs.
Opening up on the Sort Your Life Out Unpacked podcast, she said, “Sometimes I fancy the pants off him and can’t wait to come home to see him. Sometimes I’m like, ‘Get out of my stratosphere – stay away from me.’ I think we’re just like any other couple.”
Our source thinks Stacey’s latest updates should help calm fears about her relationship with Joe. “She’s trying to prove to everyone that she can be everything and a huge success,” they said.
Our source added, “She can get upset by negative comments online, but sadly she’s always going to have to deal with haters.
“She’s been longing for a new start and it seems like this is it. Joe loves her new look, but he loves her whatever.”
