[Red Moon]

CHANTELLE'S A GLADWAG

CHANTELLE Houghton is finally living her dream after becoming one of the best-known faces on the celebrity circuit and bagging herself a Premier League footballer.

The babe, 25, is a regular at London’s top clubs and counts A-listers including Chanelle Hayes, 21, and Calum Best, 27, among her friends.

She’s also dating Portsmouth ace Jermain Defoe, 26 and is a fully-fledged WAG.

But just a few years ago it was different story for Chantelle. Growing up in Wickford, Essex, she dreamed of becoming a top star like her idol Paris Hilton.

She worked in a bank and an office before the Daily Star gave the beauty her first big break in 2004. She went on to land lucrative modelling deals and a job as a double for heiress Paris, 27.

Next up for the ambitious blonde was an audition for Big Brother. Producers turned her down for the regular series but spotted her potential.

She was sent into Celebrity Big Brother in 2006, conning stars including Michael Barrymore, 56, and Pete Burns, 49, into believing she was a singer with a fake girl band KandyFloss.

Her popularity even started to outstrip Big Brother’s most famous housemate Jade Goody, 27.

Chantelle says with a giggle: “I might not be the brightest star in heaven but I could be bigger than Jade.”

But the romance which was to make – and break – Chantelle was just around the corner.

She got close to Ordinary Boys singer Sam Preston in the house and their will-they-won’t-they relationship had the nation gripped.

There was just one problem – Preston’s French girlfriend Camille Aznar, who was furious at the pair’s on-screen flirting.

Chantelle stormed to victory in the show and was bombarded with £1m of TV, modelling and recording deals, including her own TV show Living The Dream.

And the icing on the cake was that Preston, 26, dumped Camille, 27, and got together with her. Everything had turned out perfectly for Chantelle – or so she thought.

After a whirlwind romance the couple wed in August, just months after they met. But less than a year later it was all over and they announced their separation.

One reason was Chantelle’s determination to have the boob job she always wanted.

After divorcing in December last year the pair began an increasingly bitter war of words and Chantelle plunged into depression.

She even came to the conclusion Preston was only in it for money, saying: “I think maybe he just went out with me because of what was going on around us at the time. 

“It was weird on our wedding day.  He was pulling silly faces when we took our vows. He took the pee.

“After he told me he never wanted to marry me, we did interviews where we told everyone how happy we were. I lied about being happy.”

But fighter Chantelle has turned her life around after the split and says she’s never been more content.

She slimmed down and went under the knife for a £4,000 boob job and now boasts 32DD assets.

In fact – as you can see by our exclusive pictures – her body has never looked better.

Chantelle had relationships with businessman Tony Richardson, 28, the ex of Scouse siren Jennifer Ellison, 25, and was linked with BB housemate Dale Howard, 21.

Now she’s loved-up with Jermain – and hoping for the fairytale ending she’s dreamed of her whole life.

And if there’s anyone who deserves it, it’s got to be our favourite Essex girl!

Source: Daily Star