How ‘flaws and all’ millionaire Charlotte Dawson became such a ‘beloved’ mum icon despite her ‘privileged background’
SOME might assume she had an easy upbringing – after all, growing up in a £1.3 million mansion isn’t too shoddy.
But it turns out that life hasn’t always been plain sailing for Charlotte Dawson, 31, who recently revealed she’s pregnant with her third child just weeks after enduring heartbreak.
It’s certainly a topsy-turvy world for the reality star who described her life as being ”crazy” after Matt Sarsfield, 32, was caught sending sexual messages to another woman.
But despite kicking the rugby ace out of their home after the scandal broke, the 31-year-old decided to give Matt another chance, secretly welcoming the ”broken” dad back.
“It’s been a crazy time… horrible, having to deal with the heartache, the hurt, and being pregnant too,” she bravely opened up to The Mirror.
“Noah was asking where Daddy was and I don’t want a broken home. I want to do what’s best for my kids.
And referring to Charlotte and Matt, a source told The US Sun: “She knows he has done wrong and she won’t forget it, but she’s pretty much forgiven him already,”
Brushes with life’s hardships seems to have cemented an army of followers for the mum of two who was just eight months old when her father and comedian Les Dawson, died.
The social media star and podcast host now has 1.4 million loyal fans on Instagram who have supported her time and time again – including when she was targeted by mum-shamers who reported her to social services.
Since having her two boys, three-year-old Noah and Jude, one, Charlotte has no doubt welcomed solace from her secure fan base who she shares her ‘failures’ and struggles with.
She has evolved from a TV personality, to the most relatable mum icon out there.
Charlotte can always be relied on to make the rest of us feel better on no make-up days – and knows how to offer a confidence boost to mums who might feel down about their postpartum tums.
A combination of all the above explains why so many can relate to her, says Edward Hopkins, a Celebrity PR expert.
He explains: “Charlotte Dawson has managed to position herself as a relatable mum icon despite her upbringing in a world of privilege, and it’s a fascinating contrast that resonates with many.
“Growing up in a mansion and being the daughter of a famous comedian, Les Dawson, one might expect her to be disconnected from the everyday struggles of motherhood.
“However, Charlotte’s authenticity and openness about her life as a mum have made her a figure that many can relate to.”
FAMILY LIFE & CANDID PARENTING
Charlotte was raised in a mansion called “The Bumbles” by her father, Les Dawson, and mother Tracy.
But the iconic comedian died in 1993 aged 62, and Charlotte’s cash-strapped mum was forced to sell the £1.3million five-bedroom mansion for £850,000.
Now, Charlotte lives with her family in a seaside ‘dream home’, a stunning home that Charlotte has described as “Dubai glam but in Blackpool.”
But although many of us can’t relate to her posh home, which has a huge bar and a grand piano in the hallway, it turns out that when it comes to motherhood, Charlotte isn’t afraid to open up and share her struggles.
On a recent episode of her podcast, Charlotte Dawson’s Naughty Corner, the mum-of-two confessed that her young son has picked up on her swearing.
Charlotte explained: “Noah’s picked up on my swearing – and Matthew’s I might add – … but it’s probably mostly me because Matthew’s the fun dad… [where as] I’m obviously stressed, mums aren’t they, we’re always trying to keep everything together.
“So basically Noah and Jude were in Jude’s cot and they were just playing around like they always do… and it’s so cute because [Noah’s] going ‘come here cheeky monkey’ – because [Jude] just started crawling – ‘come here cheeky monkey, come here cheeky monkey’ and [Jude] bangs his head on the cot and [Noah] goes ‘oh s**t he’s just banged his head’.
“It was just hilarious because it was so in context.. and it was so comedy timed, you can tell he’s Les Dawson’s grandson!.. My dad would have been howling up there.”
Not only this, but we can always rely on Charlotte to be open about motherhood, as Charlotte previously shared a video of both feeding her youngest with one breast and pumping milk with the other.
The honest mother confessed: “Wow guys, pumping and feeding, I’m absolutely knackered.
“I’ve had a full screaming match this morning, Noah wants my full attention when I’ve obviously got Jude – it’s been full on.
“My head is pounding, Jude’s not sleeping because he’s teething, oh my god help, help.
“Breastfeeding makes you knackered as well doesn’t it? I’m doing it, I’m milking away… I’m trying to be split into two – full on.”
Beautiful and so raw and real. Thanks for being transparent with us
Charlotte Dawson fan
And no, she doesn’t have a nanny or a team or housekeepers to step in, like many other celebrities do, as she revealed: “I’ve had to ring my mum, I need some help.”
But breastfeeding hasn’t always been easy for Charlotte – which she was keen to share with her followers.
The honest mum was praised by parents for her “transparent” post about struggling to breastfeed her first son, Noah.
She opened up on “the pain and sleepless nights” of getting to grips with the feeding routine and told her followers she felt “rewarded” for persevering with breastfeeding.
At the time, she shared: “I’ve been breastfeeding for nearly four weeks now and I’m feeling so proud as the health visitor weighed our cherub yesterday.
“Obviously mamas doing something right with her udders – but it’s not all happy smiles as I show my pictures here.
“I can’t even explain the pain in the first week, my nipples felt like they were gonna fall off, the cuts were so bad. Thank god for nipple cream.”
Charlotte Dawson - relationship statement in FULL
Here is her emotional statement in full.
In a message posted on Instagram she said: “I’ve had loads of messages regarding mine and Matthew’s relationship and I wanted to just be honest with all of you as I navigate through this.
“I was in complete shock and devastated.
“Whilst so many of you have been kind and caring, there have been a number of people that have said I’ve sold this story for money.
“This is completely fales and I would never do this to my family or myself.
“The story was sold by the girl and I have no idea who she is.
“I’m extremely hurt, upset and disappointed about the situation.
“It’s hard enough going through something like this in private, let alone publicly.
“My only focus right now is on my beautiful boys as they are my main priority.
“Thank you to everyone who has shared their love and support. It doesn’t go unnoticed.”
Charlotte, 31, has been engaged to her partner Matt Sarsfield since September 2020.
Charlotte went on to reveal how she wanted to “give up so much” after suffering “sleepless nights” and “painful t**ies”.
She added: “I carried on and stayed strong. I’m not gonna sugar coat it, it’s hard. You’re on demand constantly. I feel like I can’t get anything done.
“But it’s so rewarding. So glad I did stick to it because it’s so much better.”
Charlotte encouraged mums “not to put pressure on” themselves with breastfeeding, telling them “fed is best” no matter how.
She confessed: “If I do a few more weeks or a few more months, amazing, but if I can’t I’m not a failure.
“And I want all my other preggo birds asking for advice to feel the same.”
Her humour, which she often uses to talk about the less glamorous sides of being a mum, makes her even more relatable
Edward Hopkins
Both mums and dads flooded the comments to praise Charlotte’s “honest” post and thanked her for remaining “down to earth“.
One woman wrote: “Absolutely love your down to earth posts. You tell it how it is, that’s what new mums and mums to be need to know.”
Whilst another agreed: “Beautiful and so raw and real. Thanks for being transparent with us. You are doing an amazing job.”
Edward says: “In essence, Charlotte Dawson’s relatability as a mum icon comes from her transparency, humour, and willingness to share her imperfections.
“Despite her privileged background, she has shown that she’s just like many other mums – trying to navigate the challenges of motherhood, dealing with personal struggles, and doing it all while keeping a sense of humour.
“Her ability to connect with others on this level has made her a beloved figure among her followers, who see in her a reflection of their own lives.”
TARGET FOR MUM-SHAMERS
But it appears that being honest online comes hand in hand with nasty trolls, as Charlotte has often found herself victim to cruel mum-shamers.
The mother previously said “I hate how the world is now” as she opened up about the mum-shamers who critique her parenting online.
The star was left heartbroken last year, after vile trolls called social services on her.
Speaking about the mum-shamers, Charlotte said: “It’s bloody painful to listen to most of the time. Everything I do they seem to pick at.
“Because Noah has still got a dummy in his mouth I’m suddenly a bad mum, but he’s two-years-old.
“I think I had a dummy in until I was six and I turned out alright.”
She continued to The Mirror: “I honestly hate how the world is now, it’s so annoying. I just feel like it’s so cr**.
“I don’t understand why people have the urge to comment such horrible things on somebody else’s life.
Obviously I’ve had negative criticism my whole life and I have always told my mum that we need to just block it out
Charlotte Dawson
“It’s got nothing to do with them and how me and Matthew bring our children up.
“Obviously I’ve had negative criticism my whole life and I have always told my mum that we need to just block it out when it came to things being said about my late dad Les.
“At the end of the day, these people are just not worth worrying about and obviously they have nothing better to do.
“When I was pregnant it really really get to me, but now that I’m a mum I suppose it does get to me a bit more because sometimes the things that people can say can get into your head and you start second-guessing yourself.
“But the majority of the time these people behind the comments are just weirdos. Sometimes I have a laugh and I do react to some of the ridiculous things they say because some of it is just outrageously funny.”
Edward adds: “One of the key aspects of her relatability is her willingness to embrace the realities of motherhood, flaws and all.
“She’s been open about her experiences with “mum-shaming” – where others criticise her parenting choices – and she doesn’t shy away from sharing these moments publicly.
“By doing so, she highlights the judgement that many mothers face and normalises the conversation around it, making her followers feel less alone in their own experiences.”
And this isn’t the first time Charlotte has been cruelly shamed – after she shared a video of her son Noah playing with his baby brother, Jude, nasty trolls were quick to attack.
In a clip uploaded to Instagram, Noah could be seen playing with some of the star’s make-up brushes near his brother’s face.
He tapped them on top of the tot’s head in a move which sparked concern from fans, as one shockingly slammed her parenting and said: “Ffs that poor baby that little-brother of his will be a nightmare using make-up brushes like that on him and pulling his chair down like that….what stupid parents you both are.”
Whilst another penned: “Get that thing out of that poor child’s face!”
MATTHEW’S NAUGHTY TEXTS
Not only is Charlotte raising two children and dealing with mum trolls, but she is also battling the recent discovery that her fiance, Matthew, was sending secret texts to another girl.
The star was told Matthew had been sending “indecent images” and she said her world totally crumbled.
The mum-of-two found out hours before their son’s birthday party and she told Matt not to attend.
She also ordered him to pack a bag and leave their home and he moved back in with his parents.
Charlotte Dawson and Matt Sarsfield - Relationship Timeline
Here's how Charlotte and Matt's relationship has played out
November 2016 – Charlotte and Matt meet shortly after she splits from a short-lived fling with Geordie Shore’s Gaz Beadle.
February 2017 – The couple split for the first time just before Valentine’s Day over Charlotte’s party lifestyle.
July 2017 – While filming Celebs Go Dating, Charlotte is told she is ‘sabotaging herself’ and she admits it’s because she was struggling to get over Matt.
September 2017 – Charlotte jets to Greece after splitting from CGD castmate Frankie Cocozza.
December 2017 – Charlotte and Matt reveal they are back together.
March 2018 – Charlotte admits to The Sun that she ‘couldn’t stay away’ from Matt, with the couple also moving in together.
October 2018 – The couple look loved up while on holiday together in Spain.
August 2020 – Charlotte reveals she is pregnant with her and Matt’s first baby together.
September 5, 2020 – Matt proposes to Charlotte next to the statue of her late father, Les Dawson.
January 26, 2021 – Charlotte gives birth to their first baby boy. She later announces his name is Noah, with the entire birth being filmed for reality show Celebrity Bumps.
February 2022 – Matt, Charlotte and Noah move into their brand new family home in Lancashire.
April 2022 – Charlotte reveals she’s tragically suffered a miscarriage.
February 2023 – Charlotte announces she’s pregnant with her second baby with Matt.
July 30, 2023 – Charlotte gives birth to her second baby boy, who she later reveals is called Jude.
October 2023 – Baby Jude is rushed to hospital after contracting RSV bronchitis, and has to remain in hospital for ‘a few days’
February 2024 –Baby Jude is readmitted into hospital after contracting bronchitis for a second time at seven months old.
August 3, 2024 – Charlotte left ‘devastated and humiliated’ after finding ‘dirty texts’ on Matt’s phone to another woman.
August 4, 2024: Charlotte throws Jude his first birthday party, with Matt notably not in attendance.
August 5, 2024: Charlotte breaks her silence, saying she is extremely hurt, upset and disappointed by the news. She says her children remain her top priority.
Speaking on whether they still had a future together, she opened up about the situation on her podcast, fighting back tears, and said: “I don’t know if I’d ever trust him again …
“I don’t want a broken home. I never asked for this. I asked for loyalty and respect. Obviously I haven’t got that. I don’t know … everything is foggy.”
The influencer said fans have been wading in on what she should do, as she added: “I get all sorts, ‘if you take him back you’re a mug, he’ll do it again’.
“And then I get others saying, ‘they’d been through it and managed to get through it and they’re better than ever now’.
“But you’ve got to act on it. You can’t let them get away with it.
“If we were to sort things out – I haven’t got a clue what I’m going to do at the moment – then we’d have to get the help … but a part of me is like, ‘will he do it again?'”
Edward acknowledges: “Her candidness about personal struggles, including the revelation that her partner had been messaging someone else, adds another layer to her relatability.
“This vulnerability allows her followers to see that even those who seem to have it all can face relationship challenges.
“It’s this honesty and openness that endears her to so many people; she doesn’t present a perfect life, but rather a real one, with all its ups and downs.”
NOT AFRAID TO BE NATURAL
But even when she’s dealing with cheating claims and mum-shamers, Charlotte isn’t afraid to prove her relatability – particularly when it comes to showing off her body and bare face.
The star is regularly praised by fans for showing off her real body and natural beauty online and recently left fans gushing for her honest uploads about her post-partum body since son Jude’s arrival.
In a post on social media, she shared her weight struggles as she posed in a dress that didn’t fit.
In a world where social media often showcases unrealistic body standards, her posts are a refreshing reminder that it’s okay to look different after having a child
Edward Hopkins
Posting a snap from her luxurious closet on Instagram, Charlotte said: “Out for a few drinks for Matthew’s birthday & trying dresses on this week I ordered went like this….
“Had to share these pics I sent to Matthew, too funny ffs! I just wanted to look sexeh for his bday.”
Fans praised Charlotte for ‘keeping it real’ with her posts, as one commented: “You’re the best! I love your honesty.”
A second wrote: “Thank you for keeping it real”, whilst a third beamed: “You are bloody beautiful and so relatable.”
And finally, Edward explains: “Charlotte is also unafraid to show her “mum bod,” posting unfiltered images that celebrate her body after childbirth.
“In a world where social media often showcases unrealistic body standards, her posts are a refreshing reminder that it’s okay to look different after having a child.
“Her humour, which she often uses to talk about the less glamorous sides of being a mum, makes her even more relatable.
“She doesn’t take herself too seriously and uses laughter as a way to connect with her audience, making the sometimes overwhelming journey of motherhood feel a little lighter.”