She is a former trainer on The Biggest Loser who has established a thriving career in the health industry.
And Michelle Bridges, 48, has revealed the shocking professional advice her mother was given by her boss when the fitness guru was growing up.
The celebrity coach told Good Weekend on Saturday that her mum Maureen was told, ‘If your children get in the way, you will be fired.’
‘If your children get in the way, you will be fired’: Celebrity trainer Michelle Bridges (left) has revealed the shocking advice her mother Maureen (right) received when Michelle was a child… and how it has affected her since
Michelle said Maureen, who also went through a difficult divorce in the 1970s, wanted her to be an independent woman who didn’t need to rely on a male partner.
‘My mum was very much of the opinion I could do it – I could take care of business,’ Michelle said.
In an interview with 9Honey last year, Michelle revealed that employers couldn’t pull stunts like that in the modern age.
![Wanting the best for her: Michelle said her mother, who also went through a difficult divorce in the 1970s, wanted her to be an independent woman who didn't need to rely on a male partner](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/15/04/14812338-7143841-_People_have_an_issue_with_my_style_Celebrity_trainer_Michelle_B-a-27_1560569981316.jpg)
Wanting the best for her: Michelle said her mother, who also went through a difficult divorce in the 1970s, wanted her to be an independent woman who didn’t need to rely on a male partner
‘Could you imagine a boss trying to pull that now,’ she said, adding her mother was a ‘house proud’ parent who always had things to do around the home.
The latest discussion of her upbringing came as Michelle revealed that, in her more-than-a-decade-long career in the public eye, she’s had to develop a thick skin.
‘For every hundred people I’ve helped, there’s maybe one person who has an issue with my style,’ she said.
!['People have an issue with my style’: Michelle (pictured) shrugged off the trolls on Saturday, saying she has developed a thick skin after spending nearly two decades in the public eye](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/15/05/14816766-7144145-image-a-11_1560573189929.jpg)
‘People have an issue with my style’: Michelle (pictured) shrugged off the trolls on Saturday, saying she has developed a thick skin after spending nearly two decades in the public eye
The popular trainer was referring to backlash against comments she made in 2016 – when she said she had never met someone who was morbidly obese and happy.
‘There are politics at play; there’s always going to be. You can’t be a trailblazer and expect everyone to like you. But I’ve got a very thick skin,’ she added.
And while the hard-as-nails Michelle finds it easy fighting against the trolls when it comes to herself, when talk turns to her relationship, she sometimes finds it harder to shrug off.
![Empire: Michelle, whose created a multi-million dollar empire, told Good Weekend: 'For every hundred people I've helped, there's maybe one person who has an issue with my style'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/15/04/14812416-7143841-Empire_Michelle_whose_created_a_multi_million_dollar_empire_told-a-28_1560569981466.jpg)
Empire: Michelle, whose created a multi-million dollar empire, told Good Weekend: ‘For every hundred people I’ve helped, there’s maybe one person who has an issue with my style’
Speaking to WHO’s Raw Talks with Keshnee earlier this month, the former TV star said that she struggles to read negative or false stories about her relationship with Steve ‘Commando’ Willis, 43, in the media.
‘Sometimes I don’t deal with it well. Sometimes it really, really hurts me but it depends on the story.’ she told the publication.
The heartfelt confession comes after rumours circulated there was tension between the couple.
![Thick skin: After being in the public eye for nearly 20 years, Michelle said that she has been forced to develop a tough exterior](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/15/04/14812458-7143841-Thick_skin_After_being_in_the_public_eye_for_nearly_20_years_Mic-a-31_1560569981746.jpg)
Thick skin: After being in the public eye for nearly 20 years, Michelle said that she has been forced to develop a tough exterior
A source close to the couple also told Woman’s Day last month that the duo are heading for a ‘split’.
‘The relationship has become increasingly toxic in the past 12 months,’ they told the publication.
They said the couple argue about everything, from their respective careers to how best to raise their three-year-old son Axel.
![Soft spot: However, the hard-as-nails Michelle finds it easy fighting against the trolls, when talk turns to her relationship, she can find it harder to shrug off. Pictured: Michelle with partner Steve 'Commando' Willis](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/15/04/14812442-7143841-Soft_spot_However_the_hard_as_nails_Michelle_finds_it_easy_fight-a-29_1560569981487.jpg)
Soft spot: However, the hard-as-nails Michelle finds it easy fighting against the trolls, when talk turns to her relationship, she can find it harder to shrug off. Pictured: Michelle with partner Steve ‘Commando’ Willis
‘They are constantly bickering over everything, from work to parenting to what to have for dinner. His daughter Brianna was living with them for a while, but she found the arguments so unbearable she moved out,’ the source added.
The couple met on set of The Biggest Loser in 2013.
Steve shares daughter Ella, nine, and son Jack, six, with a previous partner.
![Family: The couple met on set of The Biggest Loser in 2013. Steve shares daughter Ella, nine, and son Jack, six, with a previous partner](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/15/04/14813158-7143841-Family_The_couple_met_on_set_of_The_Biggest_Loser_in_2013_Steve_-a-30_1560569981505.jpg)
Family: The couple met on set of The Biggest Loser in 2013. Steve shares daughter Ella, nine, and son Jack, six, with a previous partner