Kerry Katona sees herself as a “great example” of turning your life around. The 45-year-old star thinks she would have benefited from having her own role models to look up to when she was a child.
Kerry is a mum-of-five, as she has Molly, 23, and Lilly-Sue, 22, with first husband Brian McFadden; Heidi, 18, and Max, 17, with Mark Croft, and daughter DJ, 11, from her marriage to George Kay.
She is currently dating Paolo Margaglione after they met on reality series Celebs Go Dating, and her children are getting on well with his two daughters.
She wrote in her column for new! magazine: “I wish to God there had been someone around when I was a kid who had platforms like we do, so people could help us feel less alone. That’s why I’m so open.
She added: “I’m a great example of how you can turn your life around and you can get through the worst times.”
The former Atomic Kitten singer insisted some things simply get better with time, even if the pain doesn’t always go away. She added: “The hurt will always be there, but time is a healer.”
Kerry is smitten with 34-year-old Paolo – who she met on E4’s Celebs Go Dating earlier this year – and revealed she would love to add to her brood of five children from three marriages.
In her OK! Magazine column, Kerry shared: “’I’m definitely open to having more kids – and I know my children would be happy for me, if that was the case.”
The Atomic Kitten star split from her ex-fiancé Ryan Mahoney after six years last November and has been open about her journey to finding love again.
Viewers were pleased to see Kerry find happiness with Paolo on the reality show, and their bond has only gone from strength to strength since. As the programme came to an end, Kerry shared an adorable photo with her boyfriend as she said “it’s only the beginning” of their relationship.
Fans rushed to send their support and good wishes after the show ended. One said: “Absolutely loved seeing your journey and how you have grown”, while a second added: “Your chemistry is magical, it’s like it’s just you two in the room when you’re together.”
She has since revealed her kids have been introduced to his two daughters and they are all getting on well. In her column for OK! magazine, the mum explained: “I love spending time with his girls, it’s such a nice feeling to have little ones around again. We’ve blended our families together seamlessly and everything fits into place perfectly.”
She recently acknowledged the “big age gap” with her new man, who is 34, but she insisted they have a special “connection.” During an appearance on the Suddenly Single podcast, Kerry explained: “The guy I’m with now [Paolo], there’s 11 years between us. It’s a big age gap, and it’s not something I’ve deliberately gone for.
“If someone matches that energy and you have that connection, where every atom in your body goes on fire … I’ve never had that. It’s like being sucker punched in the stomach. I’ve got it now!
“I hope it works, but even if it doesn’t, I’ll never forget this feeling. You see me falling in love [on Celebs Go Dating]. Even if this ends tomorrow, I don’t think I’ll have a feeling like this ever again.”