Having won the Great British Bake Off, released her own cookbook out and created a cake for the Queen, it's fair to say that Nadiya Hussain is on top of her game.
But despite her many successes the star baker and mother-of-three admits that there are moments when she misses her old way of life.
Speaking to Essentials magazine the chef, 31, explains that she considers herself to have been very lucky to have been a stay-at-home mother, admitting that that title no longer applies in quite the same way.
She told the magazine: 'There is such a stigma attached to being a "housewife" but I loved being a stay-at-home mum.
'Sometimes I think people forget that what I had was a luxury. There are so many women out there who would love to stay at home with their children, but they can’t.
'Yes, I sacrificed my career for a time but it was a choice I made and it was worth it. I’d do the same again given the same choice.
'I never felt frustrated, in fact I miss my old life sometimes.'
She continued to say that despite her high flying career her priority in life is still to be a good mother to her three children.
She said: 'The most important thing for me is to be a good example to my kids. I spent ten years at home with them and got the best time with them but I know it’s important that they see me go out to work and earn a living and that they realise men and women can be equal.
'Somebody asked my son, “What does your mum do? What’s her job?” and he said, “She lives her dreams”. That’s exactly what I want them to do – to learn that they can live their dreams, no matter what they are.'
Despite her love for her family and children Nadiya says that her stint on the Great British Bake Off sparked some unsavoury rumours among her pals.
She revealed: 'My friends thought I was having an affair when I was away filming so often! There’s so much secrecy around the show that I had to keep it to myself.
'I didn’t even tell my parents until the sixth week. I thought it would be too much pressure on them to keep it a secret but in the end, I had to tell my mum because she started taking it personally when I didn’t visit like I usually did. They were so excited when I finally spilled the beans.'
Following her win on Bake Off it wasn't just Nadiya who was attracting attention from fans with her husband Abdal quickly becoming somewhat of a heart throb after appearing in the final.
Nadiya admits that she found the whole idea of her husband being a sex symbol very amusing.
She continued: 'When he first appeared on screen in the Bake Off, I couldn’t believe the reaction from women on social media. I mean, sure, he’s a hunk, but we had people tweeting and asking him for his skin care regime!
'I thought, “What skin care regime? He puts water on his face!” I kind of got a bit offended, I thought I’ve been on there for ten weeks and I don’t get half that reaction and he goes on for two minutes and Twitter goes wild. It was really funny.'
Nadiya, like many of the contestants on the BBC baking show, dropped a few double entendres during her time on the show but she says it was never intentional.
She explained: 'I think the Bake Off tent puts innuendos in your head. You don’t realise it at the time then you find yourself talking through how you’re going to make a bread snake and you think, "Oh lord what have I just done?" My husband said, "You could have made anything and that’s what you made? A snake…!"'
By Martha Cliff
