Having a Dale of a time! Soap star Gemma Atkinson indulges her adventurous side as she soars through the air on a flyboard during Cape Verde getaway

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She's a self-confessed fitness fanatic who takes pride in sharing tips and workout clips with her fans.  

So it came as no surprise to see Gemma Atkinson wasn't just lounging around by the pool on her Cape Verde holiday as she decided to ramp up the action with a day out flyboarding on the high seas. 

Determined to master the art, the 31-year-old Emmerdale star made several successful attempts to balance on the board, which is water-propelled to shoot up into the air.

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Gym bunny: It came as no surprise to see Gemma Atkinson wasn't just lounging around by the pool on her Cape Verde holiday as she decided to ramp up the action with a day out flyboarding on the high seas

Showing off her gym-honed figure, the brunette bombshell donned a skintight wetsuit that was cropped at the knee to flash a hint of her impeccably toned pins. 

Ensuring safety came first, the star also donned a helmet, whilst she slipped her curvaceous frame into a bright orange life jacket. 

Emerging from the sea with her sodden chestnut locks cascading past her shoulders, the former Hollyoaks star looked more like a Bond girl than a soap star as she hit the beach.  

Up, up and away! Determined to master the art, the 31-year-old Emmerdale star made several successful attempts to balance on the board, which is water-propelled to shoot up into the air

Leggy lady! Showing off her gym-honed figure, the brunette bombshell donned a skintight wetsuit that was cropped at the knee to flash a hint of her impeccably toned pins

Gemma looked happy and confident as she enjoyed her day out after hitting out at body shamers who critcised her enviably muscular physique.  

The sculpted 5ft 9in star transformed into a fitness fanatic after emerging as a glamour model and Hollyoaks pin-up in the Noughties and now says she has the confidence to 'ignore' her critics.

Speaking on This Morning earlier this year, she said: 'People say to me "Real women have curves." Well I don't – I am straight up and down. It's mostly men actually, they say women shouldn't have muscles. 

'But that's like me saying to a man that unless they look like Arnold Schwarzenegger, they're not a man, which isn't right. I just ignore all the trolls.'

Orange you glad you came: Ensuring safety came first, the star also donned a helmet, whilst she slipped her curvaceous frame into a bright orange life jacket

Going, going, gone: Gemma attempted to keep her balance but ended up head first in the sea 

Lashing out: Gemma looked happy and confident as she enjoyed her day out after hitting out at body shamers who critcised her enviably muscular physique

Gemma, who plays Carly in the Emmerdale, has also used her social media platform to empower others about their body image, taking to Instagram with a post about loving your body.

She wrote: 'Nowadays we seem to be pressured into looking a certain way or reaching a certain standard of "perfect." It's sad that people would choose to look a certain way & prioritise that over their own health!'

She added: 'You are SO much more then a 'body shape' or a number on a scale. Remember that.

'Don't let anyone tell you that you're too this or too that. For a stranger to have such a negative opinion on YOUR body means they are 1000% unhappy with their own.'

Off she goes: The star seemed in great spirits as she soared through the air on the machine 

Gemma has thrown herself into a healthy fitness regime after splitting from her long term love Olly Foster earlier this year.

Speaking about the split at the time she told the Sunday People: 'Sometimes there are people in your life and it's just not working out the way you thought. We'll always be in each other's life but just as friends.

'We went on a road trip the other week together. Now I can't get away with ditching sessions as he's quite strict with me. I'm happily single.

'I've got the dogs and lots going on professionally. It's nice to be on my own for a bit. I have not even thought about dating. I will give it a few months.' 

Hitching a ride: The star made a graceful disembark from her speedboat as she headed further out into the ocean

Careful! She nearly fell off the flyboard several times but luckily managed to keep her balance 

The split came as a surprise as Gemma previously revealed plans to have children with Olly.

She previously said: 'I always said I'd have a baby at 32 - my mum had me at 32 - so hopefully we'll do that in a few years if God allows it.'

Meanwhile, along with playing Carly Hope on Emmerdale, Gemma is also keeping busy with her movie career and recently filmed a Bollywood movie.

Brunette bombshell: Emerging from the sea with her sodden chestnut locks cascading past her shoulders, the former Hollyoaks star looked more like a Bond girl than a soap star as she hit the beach