Look, we know how it can be. You plan a summer diet and then, all of a sudden it’s August and you feel like you can’t wear your bikini at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival like you planned. Well Bella Younger’s clean eating character Stella is here to help you get on track with the healthy eating with her Edinburgh show Deliciously Stella. If it’s green, it’s good for you! Yes that includes Haribo.
We caught up with Bella Younger to talk about her character, her book and recipe tips…
Funny Women: Tell us about your Deliciously Stella character
Bella Younger: So in my show, Deliciously Stella is desperate to become the premiere clean eating guru in the world. She thinks she can stamp out the competition with her delicious diet tips but she has no idea how unhealthy they are. For Stella, skittles count as one of your five a day so in essence, she is full of nutribullshit.
FW: Congratulations on your Deliciously Stella book! What can we expect from it?
BY: Thank you so much. I’m so excited for people to see it. It was really fun to write. You can expect lots of ‘healthy’ recipes with a twist. And the twist is that they’re all made out of pic n’ mix. And white carbs of course. I ate so much sugar on the shoot I didn’t sleep for days and I got to fulfil a lifelong dream by spiralling a block of cheese. And wearing a jammy dodger face mask. They are definitely not recipes to try at home.
FW: Any Deliciously Stella recipe suggestions?
BY: I would say to get the book for some top tips on making energy balls out of your favourite chocolate bars. Bounties are great because you get the added benefits of coconut. Stella loves coconuts.
FW: You poke fun without ever being mean, was that a conscious decision or are you just a really nice person?
BY: I would like to think that I’m quite a nice person. I did start the account because I found #eatclean annoying, but I knew that I didn’t want to be a troll. I have no quarrel with people who want to eat more vegetables. I just really needed to give my own take on yoga and green juice. None of Stella’s green juices contain any vegetables. That’s a promise.
FW: Do you prefer doing stand-up or character comedy?
BY: I was initially quite nervous of character comedy because stand up is a bit like telling stories you’d tell down the pub; whereas character comedy is like performing a one woman play. It’s easier for me to learn stand up than character comedy, but it’s good to be scared. I think it shows you care. The more I perform as Stella the more I love it, so maybe after Edinburgh I’ll be all about the characters.
FW: Who are your favourite funny women?
BY: For me French and Saunders are the original and best. I think Sara Pascoe and Bridget Christie are excellent, I love what that their material is so feminist and proud. Amy Poehler, Lena Dunham and the Broad City girls are doing amazing things on US TV. There are so many brilliant people around at the moment, I’m going to be very busy at Edinburgh.
Bella Younger’s Deliciously Stella will be at the Pleasance Theatre at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Wednesday 3rd – Sunday 28th August. For more information and tickets click here!
