Andrea McLean revealst she felt like a Stepford Wife before she had her breakdown

‘I was Little Miss Stepford and it made me ill’: Andrea McLean ‘calls bulls**t’ on the pressure for women to be perfect and admits her 2019 breakdown stemmed from the strain

Andrea McLean has revealed that she felt like she had to be the ‘perfect Stepford Wife’ before her nervous breakdown in 2019.

The former Loose Women panelist, 51, told Platinum Magazine that she thought that she had to strive for perfection throughout her 20s and 30s ahead of facing her mental health struggles two years ago. 

She told the publication: ‘I tried to be the perfect daughter, the perfect wife, the perfect mother, the perfect employee, the perfect friend – and now I look back and I feel really sorry for me back then.’ 

A struggle: Andrea McLean has revealed that she felt like she had to be the ‘perfect Stepford Wife’ before her nervous breakdown in 2019 (pictured last year)

Last year, Andrea surprised Loose Women viewers when she admitted she had secretly suffered a breakdown and confessed she had been a ‘really dark place’ in 2019, but had been seeking professional help and support to help work through it.

Speaking about the lead up to her battle, she told Platinum: ‘As women, we’re raised to be really good girls: to say yes and smile and be lovely and make everyone else feel comfortable. And actually you’re the one who’s coming in last…

‘And then we’re told we’re selfish if we want to do something for ourselves. I call bullsh*t on that now. […] I was Little Miss Stepford – and it made me feel ill.’ 

Andrea recently left her gig on the ITV show Loose Women, after a 23 year long stint with the TV company, making her the longest serving anchor. 

Perfectionist: The former Loose Women panelist, 51, told the magazine that she thought that she had to be perfect in her 20s and 30s, saying: 'as women we're raised to be good girls'

Perfectionist: The former Loose Women panelist, 51, told the magazine that she thought that she had to be perfect in her 20s and 30s, saying: ‘as women we’re raised to be good girls’ 

Throughout the pandemic, she realised that the show had become her day job and not her passion. 

She said: ‘The pandemic made me realise the world could just change on a dime – so just do it. Do it. I have no idea if this is going to work but I’m following my gut.’

Andrea has kept herself busy with other projects including her business This Girl Is On Fire.  

Details: Andrea has kept herself busy with other projects including her business This Girl Is On Fire (Andrea pictured last year)

Details: Andrea has kept herself busy with other projects including her business This Girl Is On Fire (Andrea pictured last year)

The mission of her business venture is to help women think differently about their lives, and brings a membership service to women to aid them in fulfilling their best potential. 

‘The company is still young, we’re still not a huge success yet, in my gut, in my head, in every part of me, I know this is absolutely the right decision.’ 

She revealed that her and her husband Nick were: ‘working 17 hours a day, 7 days a week, eating, sleeping, drinking This Girl Is On Fire.’ 

‘Our community is testing everything for us, giving us feedback, and they’re part of this.’  

Read the full interview in the September issue of Platinum – out 28th July. 

Quit: Andrea has recently left her gig on Loose Women, after a 23 year long stint with the TV company, saying to the publication: 'it had become by day job and not my passion'

Quit: Andrea has recently left her gig on Loose Women, after a 23 year long stint with the TV company, saying to the publication: ‘it had become by day job and not my passion’ 

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