Bake Off star Georgie Grasso's mental health journey and heartbreaking meaning behind tattoo

Georgie Grasso has made it to the final of this year's Great British Bake Off. As you’re tuning in tonight for the final episode at 8pm on Channel 4, here is everything you need to know about the 34-year old, from Wales, who will appear alongside the other finalists Christiaan de Vries and Dylan Bachelet.

Georgie, a nature-lover and forager from Carmarthenshire, finds inspiration in the food that grows in the nearby hedgerows and fields. She is a proud Welsh-Italian and lives in a farmhouse with her husband and three kids, ten hens, two ducks, two dogs, and a cat.

She has been on quite the journey already on Bake Off. And according to the Mirror, which gave viewers a preview of what to expect today, Georgie claims her last showstopper was "the most challenging bake" she has ever done, so tonight's finale looks like it could be be a significant occasion for her.

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But judging by her life so far, it seems that this determined baker is no stranger to facing challenges and she has continued to power through to achieve her goals no matter what has stood in her way so far. For the latest TV & Showbiz news, sign up to our newsletter

Who is Georgie?

Georgie is a paediatric nurse with three children and shares posts about her life in the countryside and her love of baking on her TikTok account and Instagram pages using the handle @georgiegrasso. Despite her busy life she clearly finds the time to forage for food in the fields and hedgerows nearby, and takes inspiration from her Italian roots as well as her travels.

She has spoken of her love of animals and nature throughout the show, including mentioning her hen called Fanny, who inspired her first showstopper cake. She told the judges at the time: "I'm actually making my chicken who's called Fanny."

Previously, she has said in an Instagram Q&A that she believes she manifested being on the Great British Bake Off after a fan asked: “Did you really manifest getting on bake off?” Georgie replied: “Absolutely. I manifest everything.”

Mental health journey and navigating ADHD

Georgie has posted openly about her experience with her own mental health and has previously spoken on Instagram about what makes her truly happy. She said: “Honestly, still figuring myself out and finding myself. I’ve spent my life in survival/flight mode, so still navigating my way out of it.

“But I know the love for my children makes my heart whole. Helping others always gives me a sense of fulfillment. It’s why I became a children’s nurse."

Georgie has also shared how much peace her garden brings her on her TikTok page, noting in one video: “The sound of the birds in my garden is such beautiful therapy.” The mum-of-three also opened up about her experience with ADHD in October, after saying she wanted to talk about it more on her social media.

She said: “I’ve lived half my life struggling with the ups and downs and trying to navigate how to live with certain conditions. I have massively struggled and I have been victim to the stigma of especially ADHD.”

Georgie has used social media to spread awareness of the condition, as well as speaking about some aspects of ADHD which are poorly understood. In one post, she shared a clip of her smiling with freshly washed hair, noting: “Finally managed to wash my hair today. Don’t forget no matter how small, a win is a win. And sometimes being productive may just be washing your hair. Go easy on yourself.”

She has previously shared that she “didn’t get on” with ADHD medication when answering a question from a woman in her thirties about the condition, explaining: “At this age we have so many deep rooted and set in stone coping mechanisms to be able to just live, and it’s hard to get out of them after so long.

“But knowing why we do certain things can help sometimes if only we take a pause before we jump into things.”

Personal background and family

Georgie lives in Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, but has also previously shared her love for Monmouthshire with her followers online. Speaking about where she lives, she said the best bit of living in Kidwelly is “the old fashioned sense of community". She added: "I love knowing basically everyone living there or them knowing me through relatives.”

The Welsh contestant is also half Italian, as her dad’s side of the family are all Italian. She has also shared that her mum’s side is Welsh “with a bit of Brummy".

When asked if she spoke any Italian, Georgie told her followers: “Yes I used to be fluent and still more or less am but I forget random words because I don’t speak it every day anymore. But I have a Calabrian dialect.”

We also know that Georgie donated her kidney to her father in 2017, although she has not gone into a large amount of detail about this experience on social media.

The heartbreaking meaning behind one of her tattoos

Georgie has a number of tattoos with one going from her leg up her side and around her back, but one of the symbols has a touching meaning. She explained: “My most significant which you will see on the show a lot is my tattoo for my little girl who was stillborn. The clock has her time of birth/death and the rose to signify her name Avery Rose.”

The talented baker and mental health advocate has shared mindful messages which may indicate some of her feelings towards the sensitive journey she has been on. In a Mother's Day post, she wrote: “Forever grateful for you three.

“Always thinking of those who are mothers that have lost, those who yearn to be mothers, and those who have lost their mothers. As much as these days can be wonderful for some, it can be crushing for others. Be kind always.”

GBBO experience and what’s next

Georgie has noted that the best thing about her Bake Off experience has been the people. She posted a heartwarming picture of herself with the other contestants, noting that she has met “the best people she could have imagined” with Alison Hammond at the forefront of the selfie.

It seems that baking will always be central to what Georgie does next, as she has revealed that she “hopes to continue in this type of field".