SHE'S an independent-minded media star with a young family and loving partner.
But This Morning's Ashley James makes it clear she doesn't need marriage to feel validated at home or in the eyes of the public.
The 37-year-old tells The Sun, "I don't want to get married", though insists she's not against the idea of marriage itself.
In an exclusive interview on behalf of Mountain Warehouse, Ashley calls her stance "a rebellious act of feminism".
She says: "I think marriage definitely serves a purpose for as long as the laws protect married couples much more."
A personal example sees Ashley reveal that her sister gave up her career to be an army wife and, as a result, forfeited a salary and pension contributions
She continues: "If they were ever to break up you know he can't just walk away and she's sacrificed all her time and career and so I think marriage serves a purpose.
"For some people it's this really exciting thing but it's just not for me and I feel lucky to live in a time where I can have children that aren't considered illegitimate and who can socialise with married people because it's not even that long ago that we couldn't.
"I feel like even when I was growing up, maybe because it was like a smaller town up north, but there definitely was a much more of a stigma around unmarried people and especially like single mums."
Despite all of this, there is still a possibility that, in time, Ashley and partner Tommy Andrews could say their vows.
"I always say in the words of Bieber, never say never, because you know once upon a time I said I didn't want children and now I've got two amazing kids, but I just don't see marriage for me," smiles Ashley
The former Made In Chelsea and Celebrity Big Brother star has been in a relationship with Tommy since December 2019 after meeting on a dating website.
They have a son called Alfie, four, and daughter Ada, two.
Ashley feels their family is complete and, while her attitude towards marriage remains flexible, has no desire to add another child into the mix.
"It's definitely a case of I don't want a third child," she says. "I'm very happy with two and you know it's a juggle.
"I feel like the pressures of modern day parenting haven't quite caught up with the fact that one parent usually isn't at home. It's really expensive.
"It's a lot of logistics and the cost of nursery childcare in general is astronomical, and I just feel really happy. We've got one each. It's nice and also I did find it like taxing on my body.
"I found it you know difficult to juggle with work, and I don't think I could go through it all again. I'm also what you'd call a geriatric mum.
"I don't think I've got it in me. I'm still having like back problems from four years of pregnancy and breastfeeding so I just don't know if I could do it again."
Ashley proudly shares her feminist values while analysing the biggest stories of the day, often beside LBC's Nick Ferrari, on This Morning.
Her honesty and conviction on TV and social media have led to her being trolled, particularly when it comes to motherhood.
Now that her children are a little older, criticism has died down somewhat, but some attitudes towards working mums still appear to be stuck in the past.
She says: "I think we still have a lot of the expectations of the 1950s but the reality for most parents is that we either want to work or need to work, and I feel like the shame doesn't exist so much to dads.
"Like most people assume that the dad has childcare, whether that's mum whether that's nursery, but I think there's still a kind of element of 'what's the point of having kids if you're not going to look after your own children?'
"My message is always do what works for you and don't worry about the shaming.
"It definitely does ease off. I think in those newborn days there's much more conversation around like how your child's sleeping, how your child's feeding and it feels like things are very controversial.
"Actually it's no one's business really how you're feeding a child as long as they're being fed, and I remember chatting to Sophie Ellis-Bextor once and she said to me 'when your kids get to my age I promise you no one sits around and asks you if your kids were bottle fed or breast fed'."
Ashley is now using her platform to reassure parents that difficulties on family days out aren't unusual and that there are ways to make trips into the great outdoors that little bit easier.
It follows a new nationwide survey by outdoor retailer Mountain Warehouse revealing 72 percent of UK parents rely on survival strategies just to make it through a family walk, and nearly 1 in 10 avoid outdoor activities with their children altogether.
"I mean the main thing I would say is don't have a clear plan," says Ashley. "I always like to think go at their pace and let them be in their world because I feel like if you're like 'right we're going to walk here to here and we've got this much time', the kids are going to pick up on that stress so I normally pick a destination."
Some of Ashley's favourite locations are the duck pond and playground at Battersea Park and a Gruffalo trail in Essex.
Kew Gardens and National Trust memberships were also among her recommendations.
When it comes to her top tip, she says: "Snacks, I'm going to say are the most important. I mean we're actually known as a family for being the snack family. Every time we go to the nursery gates all the kids come round us for snacks.
"I feel like if you've got your snacks, you've got your destination, that's half the battle. We just bring weather appropriate clothing, especially if it's been raining. You need the wellies because chances are they are going to want to jump in muddy puddles.
"You know you don't have to climb to the highest mountain, especially if you've got toddlers because realistically they're going to have a meltdown even if you're on flat ground.
"So it's just about getting out and, for me, those days going through the Gruffalo trail most weekends that saved my mental health because it's like a way just to get out."
Mark Neale, Founder & CEO at Mountain Warehouse, adds: “Family walks are rarely picture perfect, but we believe that getting outdoors with the whole family creates some of the most meaningful moments.
"At Mountain Warehouse, we’re here for those everyday mountains, the mud, the rain, even the dog going for an unexpected swim. We want families to feel ready to face them with confidence, humour, and the right kit.”
