She admits she was 'engaged in a constant battle with my body'.
'My GP warned that if I didn't gain weight, it could lead to infertility, and this is what catapulted me into making changes,' Monica, who wed Mark on national TV, confesses.
'Looking back now it's hard to believe how small I was and how easy it is to lose perspective. Positive body image is such a challenge for so many of us. It's often weight loss stories which we celebrate and little fanfare is given to weight gain, when often the reverse situation is just as tough, and can have such dire consequences. I'm a big believer in loving your body for what it is. We are all beautiful and unique and comparing ourselves to others is both unrealistic and harmful.
I'm a massive health and fitness advocate, and I'm so proud of what I've achieved and how far I've come, but I'm still a work in progress. Never judge a book by its cover and never assume you understand what battles somebody else is fighting. Just because somebody is slim doesn't mean they aren't fighting demons. Just because somebody is larger doesn't indicate that they dislike their body.'