As stars of the hot new series of MKR, Sydney sisters Jess and Emma have already had to face a fierce and vicious public backlash over their ‘plastic surgery disaster’ appearances.
The vivacious sisters have suffered under the strain of a string of cruel comments, such as: ‘Oh look, they’re puffer fish,’ and ‘Don’t let them near the stove, they’ll melt.’ But while the stinging comments have taken a heavy toll on 31-year-old Jess, she’s quick to fight back.
‘There have been a lot of personal attacks about us,’ she says. ‘I’ve had work done and I’m the first person to admit that – I’m all for cosmetic enhancement and if it makes you feel good, then do it.
‘But I’m not Botoxed to the hilt or anything like that, I’ve only had my lips done. And I’m only 31! But people are like: “Oh she needs a structural engineer for her face,” and “Those old chicks are mutton dressed as lamb.” And I’m like: “I’m really not that old!”’
Adds Emma: ‘There are going to be a s***load of people who say: “OMG, they’re not natural,” but you know what, it’s just a bit of Botox to stop your frown line.
‘People have made it sound like we’ve had a full-on facelift or something – but to me, Botox is just so common.’
But while Emma’s very comfortable with her appearance, she does admit to looking more swollen and ‘like a blowfish’ due to a medical drama shortly before filming.
‘In the beginning my lips look frigging ginormous because I had contact dermatitis and my lips were literally hanging over half my face, and I cannot even tell you the pain I was in,’ the 38-year-old tells New Idea.
‘So every angle I’d see of myself, I’d think: “Oh God, I look like a blowfish!”
‘It was honestly like having a blowtorch to my mouth, it was just so freaking painful. And that’s what I was stressing about – how was my face going to look on camera because it was bright red and swollen. And not just my mouth, all around my face! I kept thinking: “This is happening now? The moment I go on TV, this is happening?!” It was crazy!
‘After I started seeing a dermatologist I went on the right medication and it made an amazing difference. But they still don’t know what caused it!’
For all the latest MKR news, catch this weeks issue of New Idea – out now!