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SHE may be a millionaire Real Housewife with her own global fashion empire, but Seema Malhotra prefers to chill out in her trackies after a hard day’s work.
The 50-year-old mum of two, who has starred in ITVBe’s Real Housewives Of Cheshire since 2016, launched high street brand Forever Unique in 2008 with husband Sandeep, 52.
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Over the past decade, it has attracted celebrity fans including Paris Hilton, Kate Middleton, Amanda Holden and Holly Willoughby.
But it hasn’t been an easy ride for Seema. Her traditional Indian parents had high hopes she would become a doctor or lawyer and arranged her marriage to Sandeep 28 years ago.
‘I wanted women to look sexy and glam’
She says: “We have our customs and religion that we follow, but it’s so important to do what you want and follow your passions.
“I think we all need to follow our dreams.”
She says: “We have our customs and religion that we follow, but it’s so important to do what you want and follow your passions.
Seema and Sandeep live in Cheshire with sons Neil, 26, and Aaron, 23. Inspired by her father, who grew his business from a knitwear stall to one of the UK’s largest menswear manufacturers, Seema studied fashion at Salford University.
That led to her landing a spot at Central Saint Martins art school in London — but her protective dad wouldn’t let her go.
She says: “He thought Asian women should get married and be at home, but our generation is different.”
At 22, she was introduced to Sandeep by her parents and fell for him instantly.
She says: “My parents asked me, ‘Is he the one?’, and I knew I wanted to be with him forever. We married nine months later.”
Sandeep’s parents were also in the fashion business and owned five clothing shops. Seema says: “ Sandeep and I wanted to get involved. I started buying with him, then we thought, ‘Why don’t we start doing it on our own?’”
The savvy couple launched their own fashion business and began selling to major stores.
Seema designed a ten-piece collection, which they sold to independent boutiques under the brand name Forever Unique.
And when Lucy Mecklenburgh, an employee of Forever Unique, joined Towie in 2010 the brand was catapulted into the limelight.
‘I want women to feel — powerful’
Within weeks, the rest of the Essex crowd were seen in Forever Unique’s bodycon mini dresses in every episode. Viewers began to snap up Seema’s designs.
A decade on, her line now boasts more than 500 pieces.
Seema says: “I was obsessed with the supermodels of the early Nineties. Growing up, they were everything to me. I just wanted women to look sexy and glam like them.
“That’s why Forever Unique is quite bold and stands out. And that’s how I want women to feel — powerful.”
But it’s not a look Seema opts for at home, where she swaps heels for trainers and bodycon for baggy loungewear.
She says: “I’m surrounded by men, so I’m like one of the lads really. I’m not really a girly girl but I do love dressing for an occasion.
I’m surrounded by men, so I’m like one of the lads really. I’m not really a girly girl but I do love dressing for an occasion.
Seema Malhotra
“I live in my tracksuit — I love my tracksuits. I’ll wear cycling shorts and a big vest top but I’ve got pink trainers and a really funky jacket. I just think adding a pop of colour makes you feel alive.”
This month Seema and her Real Housewives co-stars took part in a two-part special and social media campaign called #HotMess about the menopause.
Seema was surgically induced into her menopause five years ago after suffering with heavy bleeding in her womb. And in 2020 she ended up in hospital with an ovarian cyst that ruptured.
She says: “It was the most horrific pain. I thought I was dying.” The star had her ovaries removed and is now in the full throes of menopause.
She adds: “It affects you from the top of your head to your toes. I had hair loss, my skin lost elasticity, I can’t sleep and I’ve got pain in my wrists and knee.”
Seema’s experience with menopause has inspired her to create a collection that will keep women comfortable as well as stylish and confident when they’re going through the change.
She says: “We’re looking into fabric that’s breathable so women can wear it and still look stylish.”
- The Real Housewives Of Cheshire returns to ITVBe at 9pm on Monday and will be available on the ITV Hub.
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