IT'S unfortunate, but there is pressure on celebrities to stay slim, says Kym Ng.

And she speaks from personal experience – the 1.6m tall host and actress had been battling an expanding waistline.

Which is why she sympathises with American pop star Jessica Simpson, who has been making headlines with her new bulges.

Recent shots of the 28-year-old singer in a pair of high-waisted denim jeans and a double belt set tongues wagging.

Even US President Barack Obama made a remark about it.

At a pre-Super Bowl interview with NBC Sunday, host Matt Lauer showed the president a recent issue of entertainment tabloid US Weekly.

First Lady Michelle Obama and their daughters were on the cover, and Lauer jokingly told the president: "You got replaced by Jessica Simpson."

(Mr Obama had been cropped out of the picture, and a photo of the singer appeared next to that of his family.)

He responded: "Yeah, who's in a weight battle apparently."

Others have speculated that the singer may be pregnant.

And that was also something that Kym could relate to.

She told The New Paper on Sunday: "It got to a point where even friends called me after they saw me on a TV show and asked if I was pregnant."

The zany babe recalled in mock despair: "I was wearing a slip dress and had forgotten to hold my breath when the camera caught my bulging tummy on TV!"

It didn't help that her boyfriend of 16 years – whom she is set to marry this year – always tells her: "Baby, don't worry. You look gorgeous."

While Kym may be fiercely protective of her private life – she doesn't even want to reveal her age – she has admitted that she weighed 53kg at her heaviest, about two years ago.

Covering up

She found herself opting for A-line tops and empire-cut dresses to hide the ill-effects of an age-and-lifestlye-related weight problem.

Kym, who is currently filming a new drama, Table Of Glory, said: "It was easier doing that than trying to find time amid my hectic work schedule to exercise."

She resorted to jogging at first to "get rid of my tummy, but the results were not very visible".

And unlike in 2001, when she ballooned because of hyper-thyroidism – an illness which she has since recovered from – this time round, she blamed herself.

She said: "This time, my weight problem is man-made.

"My favourite and regular diet was made up of coconut-rich foods and fried stuff."

Then, there's the slowing metabolic rate that comes with age.

She found out about that after she was approached to become the new celebrity face for Marie France Bodyline in July.

But she said: "I found out there was hope for me."

She managed to shed more than 6kg after undergoing the Goldluxe

Body Therapy at the slimming specialist for three times a week for two months.

Kym added: "At least I can now wear the sexy and pretty dresses that I had not dared to for a long time.

"And my boyfriend, who had previously said I was fine, actually told me, ‘Oh baby, your skin (is) now really like (a) baby's!' "

While the reaction to her new figure have generally been positive and encouraging, some netizens have questioned the "reliability" of Kym's product endorsements.

Blogger Queensize wrote: "In case no one remembered, this host was previously endorsing SlimWater. So what happened to that?"

On a forum, netizen Ryan said: "I like Kym a lot but for her to change her tune each time she endorses a new product makes me wonder how real she is."

Yet another, Limei, commented on the same forum: "Give the girl a break. She just needs the money for her wedding."

A link to the SlimWater commercial on YouTube was provided in the same thread.

In the 2003 video, Kym is seen wearing a slinky black dress and beckoning the viewer to try out a new beverage. She twirls her arms with ballerina-like grace as water is splashed on her by the gallons.

It is not clear if SlimWater is still available here.

Kym said of the SlimWater and Marie France endorsements: "The two are entirely different products. SlimWater is a drink that contains vegetable fibre to aid digestion. It was supposed to help us detox."

She added: "And back then, I was slim – unlike this time, when I had really put on so much weight."

Kym also said it was important to exercise self-discipline. "Seriously, after all the effort I've gone through to drop the kilos, I now realise that we should not over-indulge, even if it is our favourite food."

She added: "It's not like I'd skip eating entirely, but I'm now more mindful.

"After all, it's my own health and fitness we're talking about.

"Besides, a celebrity has the responsibility (to look good) for her fans and supporters."