JACQUELINE Jossa has spent her entire adult life in the spotlight, after being cast as Lauren Branning in EastEnders when she was just 17.
Back then all we knew of her was “her long dark red hair, love for band tees and tatty looking bomber jackets," says Fabulous fashion editor Clemmie Fieldsend.
But since leaving the soap and winning I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here, Jac has become a household name, and the subject of both adoration and envy because of her “relatable, girl-next-door style”.
She’s even signed a six-figure deal with fashion brand In The Style to produce her own ranges for Adam Frisby’s brand, which broke records with it's first collection by selling out in just six minutes.
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But having shot to fame so young, it’s inevitable that it’s taken the actress and mum-of-two some time to find her fashion footing and become more confident in front of the camera.
With the help of body-language expert Judi James, check out how Jac’s evolved from an uncertain wallflower into a confident fashion icon.
UNCERTAIN BEGINNINGS
In early 2020, Jacqueline released her first In The Style collection.
Clemmie describes the pieces as “mostly loose in silhouette and made of t-shirt style cotton material and covered in ditsy floral prints”.
The range was “somewhat dull”, Clemmie adds, but sales were helped by the gorgeous weather and demand for comfy clothes during lockdown.
As the summer weather came earlier, “by March we were sunning ourselves in back gardens itching to get our hands on loose, pretty but practical clothing - which is exactly what Jacqueline gave us”.
Body-language expert Judi James says the actress wasn’t looking to make too much of a statement with her early creations, as proven by her posture while modelling her line.
As Judi explains, despite being a “beautiful girl and a mighty fine actress”, the star seems to have a “lack of inner confidence” which had an “overall impact” on her body language.
“Jacqueline looks tense and out of character,” the body-language buff continues, “as though she’s trying to be someone else rather than relaxing and allowing her authentic personality to show.
“Her gestures look forced and as though she’s taken a detailed direction, which hints at a strong desire to please and a total lack of vanity.”
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Judi points out a picture that Jac shared to her Instagram promoting her soon to be released summer range for In The Style, in which her eyes are closed and she’s clutching the hem of her mini-dress.
“Jacqueline’s signature pose during this era is emphatically childlike,” she explains.
“Looking cute is often a sign that someone is trying to self-soothe to avoid criticism or attack,” which can indicate a “dented self-esteem or inner confidence”.
“The genuine joy or sense of being carefree is not coming through here,” Judi continues, “with a stab at an overkill smile (head thrown back, mouth open, eyes closed) which prevents her from having any direct engagement with the camera.”
“She might have failed to realise how stunning she looked, which is a shame.”
It’s the same story in a similar snap that Jac shared in March, where she’s striking a near identical pose in a similar frock.
“Her stiff right arm seems to be held towards the front of her torso in a partial barrier, which again suggests a lack of body confidence,” Judi says.
“The hem-pinch is a signature pose that suggests a curtsey, which again hints at a desire to please.”
In a shot shared in April, the ‘Eastenders’ icon appeared in a red polka-dot two piece looking stunning, but Judi points out she still doesn’t seem at ease.
“This pose is a little flirtier but again her eyes are almost closed and although she’s smiling, the corners of her mouth are pulled down, making any sense of fun look a bit incongruent,” Judi reckons.
“If she’d allowed her extrovert, actress side to take over her leg and arm positions could have been less awkward. It’s as though she needs someone off-camera to keep yelling how great she looks to prompt her to relax and show off more.”
GROWING UP AND EASING UP
In more recent years, Jacqueline has evidently “found her fashion groove and updated the collection with more trend-led styles”, Clemmie notices.
The 30-year-old has developed her own uber-glam “signature style”, the fashion whizz adds: “maxi skirts and tops in bold floral prints and wrap dresses with thigh high slits”.
Her new collections are “practical but versatile”, including her take on jeans and a nice top and a stylish LBD.
The clothes are “more figure enhancing as opposed to figure covering”, and she’s added belts and the waists, body-con styles and faux leather “which is on trend and super sexy”.
“As Jacqueline has grown in age, as has her confidence in her clothing line,” Clemmie states.
Judi agrees that the star’s self-esteem has rocketed, noting that in recent pics, the difference in Jacqueline’s mindset is instantly recognisable.
In snaps shared celebrating her autumn collection earlier this month, the famous face looked laid-back in a series of more easy poses.
“Jacqueline has suddenly grown up and her body language has begun to ooze confidence here,” Judi says. “Those girlish poses have gone and in their place is a much more assertive, direct and even flirty, slightly challenging look.”
“Suddenly she’s making direct eye contact with the camera and with no desire to close her eyes as she did before, so no apparent desire to hide. Her eye expression signals excitement and genuine happiness as though she’s enjoying showing off at last.”
It’s the same story in recent pics celebrating her 'Mum’s Night Out' collection, in which she modelled a range of sultry outfits with a beaming grin.
“Her mouth shape is symmetric and her smile doesn’t look forced,” Judi comments. “Her rounded cheeks make it look like an authentic smile, too.”
“Her arms are more comfortable and natural-looking and her legs are elegantly crossed, suggesting she now has the confidence to get into the pose herself, rather than taking direction.”
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