Kerry Katona has announced she is re-entering the world of dating after her split from fiancé Ryan Mahoney in November last year. The former Atomic Kitten star plans to join the celebrity dating app Raya to help find herself a new man.
Raya is an exclusive platform which allows celebrities to find matches with other famous faces. Kerry hopes she will be accepted on the app to kickstart her love life.
The 44-year-old wrote in her column for OK! magazine: “I have actually been trying to get on the Raya app to dip my toe in the dating pond, but I’m not on it yet. I don’t think I’d like to do the other apps again.”
She is planning to get through her first single Valentine’s Day since the breakup. She told OK!: “It’s Valentine’s day on Friday and I’m quite glad I’ll be away on holiday for it since it’s my first one single in a long time.
“It will be a bit strange without Ryan, but he was never great at Valentine’s gifts anyway. I’ve never been really into Valentine’s day so I’m feeling OK – I think it’s a bit gimmicky, although I did get married once on 14 February!
She added: “I’ll get the kids a card and maybe one for myself because I need a bit of self-love.” It comes after Kerry previously admitted she’s planning to stay single for at least a year.
Kerry is mum to Molly, 23, and Lily-Sue, 21, with first husband Brian McFadden, as well as Heidi, 17,and Max, with ex Mark Croft, and 10-year-old DJ with late husband George Kay. The singer insisted her children wouldn’t be happy if she moved on so quickly.
She told New! magazine: “I’ve not really got any interest in being with anyone right now – I’d like to be single for 12 months.” She added: “The kids are happy with it being just us, and they wouldn’t like it if I got into another relationship now.”
Kerry was supported by fans after making an emotional announcement at the end of last year. She took to Instagram to share her struggles as she admitted: “I never thought 2024 would’ve ended like this”. The singer, who was engaged to Ryan Mahoney announced their split in November, she wrote in her column for OK! magazine: “I’ve been feeling very up and down since Ryan moved out, it’s not been easy.
“He was my best friend so I’m adjusting to not having him around, it feels a bit like a death, which I know may sound dramatic but it’s mourning all the things you did together. It’s hard but I’m sure I’ll get there.”
Fans added: “You are on your own vibration Kerry and it’s so inspiring… Keep doing you and Living your life .. Look at your kids and know who you are ..Your BEST years are ahead” and “Kerry don’t give up, keep that beautiful smile & tell the head to stop. Keep your circle small & close. You have brilliant Children & they’ll help you through it. This too shall pass.”