Ashley James has shared a very honest behind-the-scenes look at the reality of being a guest at the BAFTA TV Awards. 

The TV personality, 37, was among those invited to the star-studded awards ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday.

Ashley looked sensational for the evening, donning a pale blue structured corset gown featuring draping off-the-shoulder straps, a bejewelled bodice and trailing skirt. 

But taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Ashley gave her fans some insight into how much work goes into getting award show ready – including fashioning an emergency pee hole in her underwear at the last minute.

From late night dress fittings ‘because my body isn’t sample size’ to sneakily hidden yoghurt stains from feeding her kids, Ashley was sure to highlight the ‘lack of glamour’.

The presenter also shared snaps of her being covered in ‘endless amounts’ of breast tape, as well her skin the morning after and precariously trying to take off her t-shirt after her hair and make-up had been done.  

Ashley James has shared a very honest behind-the-scenes look at the reality of being a guest at the BAFTA TV Awards after her stunning appearance on Sunday

Ashley looked sensational for the evening, donning a pale blue structured corset gown featuring draping off-the-shoulder straps, a bejewelled bodice and trailing skirt

Sharing the refreshing take, the mum-of-two said: ‘A little look behind the scenes of the red carpet pH๏τos – BAFTA edition.

‘I remember before I started the industry – and even when I first started looking at red carpet events and thinking it all looked so glamorous! And I know from the outside it really does look polished – but I thought it important to remind you of all the work and lack of glamour behind it all!

‘The late night fittings where things don’t quite zip up because my body isn’t “sample size”, the hidden yoghurt stains from rushing to get the kids fed before I went to get ready, have to cut crotch holes with scissors just to be able to pee (and I definitely misjudged that one LOL!).

‘Plus the whole team who quite literally piece you together so you can show up feeling like the the best version of you’re self. Honestly, @tatiana_londonstylist has spent days sourcing dresses and getting them adjusted and even trying to source the right underwear. It’s bonkers really how much is done just for that one moment!’

She continued: ‘Plus there’s the reality of how our skin looks in bad lighting – we still have pores and lines and in my case old tan on my back that needed covering from where I didn’t wash it properly! One of the girls couldn’t go to the loo for 8 hours because she was sтιтched into her dress!

‘I think I always like to show the reality and work behind the red carpet pics so you remember not to compare yourself and to remind you that behind the scenes it’s a whole lot less glamorous!

‘As always I feel so grateful to be able to go and even more grateful to the amazing glam team who made me look the way I did! Because I did not look like that this morning!❤️’

Back in March, Ashley opened up about her personal struggles with her self-worth and body image, admitting it took her a ‘really long time’ for her to accept herself.

But taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Ashley gave her fans some insight into how much work goes into getting award show ready

Ashley opened up about the reality of wearing a stunning gown but realising there was no way she could go to the toilet 

The star shared a snap after having fashioned an emergency pee hole in her underwear at the last minute

Ashley was candid as she shared a snap about late night dress fittings ‘because my body isn’t sample size’

The presenter also shared snaps of her being covered in ‘endless amounts’ of breast tape

She is determined to ensure her two-year-old daughter, Ada, never faces those same battles and is committed to breaking free from the societal pressures that often leave women feeling inadequate.

Speaking candidly about her journey towards self-acceptance, Ashley explained how important it is for her to protect Ada from the toxic culture of body image obsession.

She exclusively told MailOnline: ‘I really don’t want my daughter to ever feel like she’s not enough or to ever critique herself, especially when, you know, we can’t change our body shape.

‘Women are so much more than our bodies, and we should be learning how to respect ourselves and strength.’

Ashley said it’s not just about resisting the pressure for women to look a certain way but also about redefining beauty on her own terms.

She emotionally told how she wants her daughter to know her value is not determined by her appearance.

‘I want Ada to grow up and know that she can be a footballer if she wants and not have to waste time thinking about food and diets,’ she shared.

Ashley also reflected on how long it took her to accept her body, a journey that now fuels her pᴀssion to spread positivity and challenge the harmful beauty standards.

‘I feel really pᴀssionate about it because I think it took me so long to get to a point where I respected and appreciated my body and wanted to do good for my body, especially, you know, in a society that I feel like always makes women’s bodies trends,’ she explained.

Sneakily hidden yoghurt stains from feeding her kids were found behind her ears as she got ready

Ashley gave her fans a look at her ‘army’ of stylists who prepared her for the awards ceremony

Ashley recently opened up about her personal struggles with self-worth and body image, admitting it took her a ‘really long time’ to accept herself

‘It’s just something that I really want to try and help women kind of not see skinniness and shrinking themselves as the ultimate goal.’

But it’s not just her daughter that Ashley worries about – she also has concerns for her four-year-old son, Alfie, whom she shares with her partner Tommy Andrews.

‘I want to keep using my voice to give women and girls a voice and keep fighting for equality and, you know, keep getting involved in politics and doing what I can to make not only the world better for my daughter, but also for my son because I worry about him as well growing up in this world,’ she said.

As part of her efforts to create positive change, Ashley has teamed up with the FA and Barclays for this year’s Biggest Ever Football Session called Made for this Game, which takes place on March 7. 

The event encourages schools across the country to get as many young girls as possible playing football on the same day.

Explaining why she’s so pᴀssionate about this initiative, Ashley said: ‘I spent quite a lot of time with young girls as part of my job and obviously this week is International Women’s Week. 

‘On Monday, I was doing a shoot with lots of 4 to 8-year-old girls. I asked them, “What’s the best thing about being a girl?” and they said, “Oh, that we get to play football now”.’