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HE loves naked women.
Not in a naughty way, though. TV presenter Gok Wan truly, deeply wants to help women feel better about their bodies. And in building up their confidence in themselves, he is introducing them to a whole new lifestyle
Better shape. Better diet. Better fitness. Better clothes.
They add up to a better life
His weekly TV programme, How To Look Good Naked, is a legendary hit. Women bombard him with offers to strip for him and bare their anxieties as well as their, often unshapely, bodies.
I must stress that the show is anything but erotic.
Quite the opposite. Most people find it optimistic and enlightening.
JOYFUL, NOT SEXY
Even when a newly-remodelled lady gained such confidence that Gok persuaded her to pose naked in a shop window in front of a cheering crowd, the mood is joyful rather than sexy.
Gok was born in 1974 in the Midlands city of Leicester to a Hong Kong immigrant father and an English mother, who still operate a fish-and-chips shop there.
His given name in Chinese is Ko-Hen Wan, but everyone calls him Gok.
Leicester is, proportionately, the most multi-cultural provincial city in the UK - when I was editor of the local daily newspaper, I gave out prizes at one school where 13 mother tongues were spoken.
Gok and his siblings were not tormented for being Chinese, but his life became a misery because as a child, he was grossly fat (though I discount his claim to have been 127kg).
As a troubled teenager, he resolved to shed the podge.
Now, he is a slender and agile six-footer, seeing life through big spectacles and under a tall quiff.
After training as an actor, he became a stylist and moved to London, though he still remains devoted to his loving family.
There, he was spotted by an executive of Channel Four, the innovative independent TV channel, as being the perfect choice for a makeover show based on re-launching unconfident women.
They called it How To Look Good Naked.
Only Gok could pull that one off, I firmly believe.
Studying his approach, I realise that it is based on affection. Gok genuinely likes women. He is not exploitative, as so many reality shows are, but eminently helpful.
The first thing he does when some trembling woman is brought before him is to give her a big hug. Just to show that someone really loves her.
He then proceeds to analyse her attributes. His questions are designed to bring out her fears - and her hopes.
He is realistic, but never, never cruel.
'My job on Naked is to make it look like they've had ???10,000 ($27,000) of surgery,' he says. 'I have to get their confidence to a level where at the end... (they are) proud of what they've done.'
Gok's greatest gift to womankind is to demonstrate that everyone has something.
All they need is for someone to value them, husband, lover or whatever. Just to inspire confidence.
GOK'S TOP TIPS
- Look at yourself in the mirror
Build up a relationship with your body and the way you look.
- Focus on your three best assets
This is important because so often we focus on our bad bits.
- Love your hair
You should have hair that suits your lifestyle, whether its short, long or curly.
- Take a picture of yourself in a new outfit when you try it on.
Then go away and have a coffee and review the images. This gives you a better perspective.
- For instant glamour, get your nails done
Book in for a manicure and pedicure. Painted nails make all the difference to how you feel
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