Katie Piper: ‘Turning 40 kind of has shame attached to it. For me, 40 represents surviving, still being here, still being alive'
At age 24, an acid attack left model turned activist and Loose Women star Katie Piper severely burned. Now in her 40s, it's given her a unique perspective on ageing and beauty
Ahead of turning 40 in 2023, Katie Piper began to notice a certain theme in questions about this approaching milestone. 'It kind of had shame attached to it,' she says. 'Like, 'How do you feel about it?' or 'Do you want to print your real age?' It was a strange feeling, because obviously, for me, 40 represents surviving, still being here, being alive.'
The fact that other people framed 40 as something to fear, to avoid, even to regret, gave Piper pause for thought and the inspiration for her new book, Still Beautiful: On Age, Beauty and Owning Your Space. She felt she had something of significance to say about ageing, about beauty and ageing and, most importantly, about the beauty and privilege of ageing.
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The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Olivia Attwood on her facelift plans, the popular surgery she'd NEVER have & why she keeps her money separate from Brad
IN a time when celebrities are more sanitised than ever, it's refreshing to speak to a star who isn't afraid to say what she thinks – even if it offends. It's that unfiltered, straight-talking, no-nonsense attitude that helped 7 Olivia Attwood is at the top of TV commissioners' most-wanted list Credit: MARK HAYMAN 7 Olivia Attwood with husband Bradley Dack Credit: instagram 'I don't take myself too seriously,' she admits. 'Sometimes, the problem online is that the nuance is lost. I'm writing something, cackling away because it's like, 'wink wink', but then it reads differently. Then it's all: 'She attacked someone'. And it was just a little joke. 'Guests leave my podcast saying: 'I'm worried about X and Y', and it's nothing controversial. There's a culture of trying to please everyone by saying nothing. But the only person you're selling short is yourself. 'It'd be very easy for me to change the way I approach things, and zip it. But should I change everything and be boring because a handful of trolls have got in a twist? I don't think so,' she laughs. READ MORE ON OLIVIA ATTWOOD 'I'm happy to be Marmite. It works. I've given them something to talk about. It's much easier for me to be myself, plus it's so much more fun.' 'The Kardashians' bodies are not created in the gym' True to form, Olivia has never shied away from discussing the work she's had done, either – two boob jobs, chin liposuction, plus regular tweakments of Does she think other celebrities should be equally open? 'This is such a difficult conversation, because I don't want to tell people that they owe us their medical records. However, I think when people monetise things, like they're on Ozempic but selling a weight-loss plan, or they've done something to their skin and are pushing a face cream, it's disingenuous. Most read in Celebrity 'I like openness. I always say that if you look at me and something looks too good, then it's probably not natural.' As for the Kardashians, who recently hit the headlines for Kris' reported facelift, and Kylie Jenner revealing details of her breast augmentation on social media, Olivia has mixed feelings. Olivia Attwood reveals she's landed huge ITV role on This Morning after Loose Women success 'I'm all for honesty, but it feels like it's a bit fashionable now to be an open book. I wish we'd had that energy from them years ago,' she says. 'Kylie came out and said about her boobs, and I was like: 'I've been talking about my breasts for the past 10 years.' I like the Kardashians, this is not me bashing them, but it's too little, too late for me. 'We know Kylie's breasts are fake. We knew she had lip fillers when she was selling those lip kits. What about talking about lipo and BBLs [Brazilian bum lifts]? Their bodies are not created in the gym.' Olivia is back discussing surgery on the second series of her ITV documentary, The Price Of Perfection. During the show, she follows different people's nip/tuck journeys, from TOWIE star Charlie King's nose job, to The Traitors' Amanda Lovett's facelift. 'It is full-on and we've got to make a decision about how much gruesome stuff we leave in,' she says. 'I knew going into the shows that I was fine with blood, and I've watched a lot of surgeries online. I find it more interesting than disgusting. But it's the smell as they cauterise the flesh, which is basically burning it to stop it bleeding.' In fact, despite having a self-confessed 'pancake bum', watching a BBL in Turkey put Olivia off wanting the surgery. 'I would definitely have a facelift in the future, as they can look amazing,' she says. ' 7 Olivia has never shied away from discussing the work she's had done Credit: MARK HAYMAN 'Watching surgeries makes you appreciate what you're putting your body through. I've minimised breast augmentation [in the past], but when you actually see it happening, it sobers you up to the reality of surgery. I think that it's probably given me a bit of a reality check. I love cosmetic intervention and I think it can be life-changing. But surgery is surgery. It's not like getting your nails done or whatever. It's still a big risk and I don't think we should trivialise that.' When leaving Love Island, contestants are often offered free boob jobs or surgery, but Olivia says she has been scrupulous about never accepting free treatments. 'I know I'm lucky to have the ability to fund my own procedures. But I learned really quickly coming out of Love Island that even if it's a hair colour or make-up, when you take something for free, you put yourself into a strange power dynamic. You are recommending that person [or product] and you can't really retract that. 'I know first-hand people who have had a free boob job and it's gone tits-up, quite literally, and they can't publicly tell that story.' 'Being a woman is hard enough, I don't need a man sticking his nose in' Money is a topic Olivia is keen to discuss, joking that she pays a 'hot-girl tax' when she has work done. 'That's tongue-in-cheek,' she says. 'I'm not implying if you don't have work done, then you're not hot. 'But we do have a female tax in general. Colouring your hair, waxing, nails, make-up. . . That s**t is expensive, and I don't think men realise that. Being a woman costs a lot.' Olivia married professional footballer Does the Gillingham midfielder ever complain about her spending too much on her appearance? 'No, he knows! We don't have those conversations. Actually, I moan when I see him buying another set of golf clubs. I'm like: 'What a waste of money!' So, I'm a complete hypocrite,' she laughs. 7 Olivia before she had lip filler Credit: SUPPLIED 'But he does pull me back to reality. If I say: 'F***, I look old today,' he'll be quick to say: 'Please!' "Also, it's boring. For me, it would be very easy to become so obsessed with the way I look. But Brad will say: 'There are so many more things interesting about you, Liv, than whether you've got a wrinkle.' I love that he does that, because it reminds me not to get sucked in.' Would he ever tell her to stop getting work done? Olivia shakes her head. 'No, how I want to look is an individual journey. I don't do things for him. If I don't feel sexy, everything will have a knock-on effect. Although, if he said it from a wellness point of view, of course I'd listen. But I wouldn't have married someone [who wanted to get] that involved. Being a woman is hard enough, I don't need a man sticking his nose in. He can worry about football and I can make the call on what I need to look good.' As well as deciding how she looks for herself, financial independence is another priority for Olivia. 'I went to an affluent private school, and I remember a close friend whose dad left their mum for his secretary. Suddenly, the big house and the cars were gone, and there's a 50-year-old woman who doesn't know how to pay a bill and can't access their bank account. Watching the rug be pulled out from under people in real time was horrendous. 'Women should absolutely be able to stay at home if they want to. I applaud women who are fulfilled by that. But financial freedom is something that we should always prioritise, because you can't say you're in an equal relationship if you don't have the power to leave when you want to.' 'Get the man, get the handbag, but don't quit your job' She recounts the story of one woman who told her that she'd found messages on her footballer boyfriend's phone that proved he was cheating. 'I said: 'You have to go,' and she said: 'Where? It's not my house, it's not my car. Everything is in his name.' You do not want to be in that spot. 'And I know it's easier said than done. I speak from such a privileged position and I love my job, but I want young women to be educated. Yes, get the man, get the handbag, but don't quit your job. Brad and I have separate bank accounts and a joint one for bills. Everything is very transparent. He knows what I earn, I know what he earns. We know where the money goes. You need to make sure you are aligned with money and want to spend it on the same things. 'Women don't like talking about finances. I don't think we should be afraid. Don't let men mansplain us out of finances. I educated myself a lot in the last two years about money, tax structure and investment.' 'I don't get annoyed with people asking me,' she says. 'I feel like I've entered into this relationship with the public where everything is for sale! I had my wedding on telly. I'm very open on social media, so I think it's natural that people will be curious. 7 On Love Island in 2017 with Georgia Harrison Credit: shuttershock 'In general, should we be constantly asking women about children? No, but I put myself in a different box. It's like these celebrities that sell their whole relationship, then they break up and ask for privacy. No, absolutely not. We are invested,' she laughs. 'I'm very comfortable with the narrative I've created, and I'm proud to be a voice for women in the same position. I know I want a family, I'm in my early 30s and fertility doesn't last forever. But my life is really full right now and I'm enjoying smashing work. Having a baby would change things, and that's something a lot of ambitious women are afraid to talk about. Whether we like it or not, having a baby will affect me in a different way to Brad. 'And I don't half-arse anything in my life – I'm not going to half-arse being a parent, so I'll do it when I'm ready. If it happened, I'd embrace it, but it would be hard to pause right now, as things are going so well.' She's absolutely right. There's another series of Olivia Attwood's Her podcast, Olivia Attwood's So Wrong It's Right, is growing, and she also has her weekly Kiss radio show with Pete Wicks, plus her role as an ambassador for Maybelline. Then there's the subject of Love Island. With rumours that presenter 'I don't know if that's true,' she says. 'Poor Maya is probably thinking: 'Why is she out there auditioning for my role?!' I have no information about Maya stepping down. For all I know, she'll stay for the next 10 years. I think she's f**king great, but if and when she didn't want to do it, I'd throw my hat in the ring. 'Love Island is the best thing I ever did. That show changed my life. I was lost and it redirected me. No one should have any expectation a reality show can do that. But for me, it worked out well.' Follow Olivia on Instagram @olivia_attwood and stream The Price Of Perfection on ITVX. IN THE MAKE-UP CHAIR with Olivia What are your skincare heroes? My favourite face cream is SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2. 7 SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 Any beauty hacks? Put roll-on deodorant on your top lip – it stops make-up sweating off. What do you splurge on? Botox. Any make-up bag essentials? Nars Face Primer, Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation and a YSL mascara. 7 Nars Face Primer, Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation Best budget buy? Maybelline Grippy Serum Primer. Who is your celebrity beauty icon? Jennifer Aniston looks fantastic. Describe your beauty evolution. I'm still wearing the same amount of make-up, just in the right places now! I choose more natural hues and my lashes aren't as big.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Coronation Street legend Sue Cleaver gives health update after quitting ITV soap – and reveals TV and Loose Women future
CORONATION Street legend Sue Cleaver has given fans a fresh health update after quitting the ITV soap after 25 years. The actress, who played telly favourite Eileen Grimshaw since 2000, Advertisement 7 Coronation Street's Sue Cleaver has opened up about her health in a new interview Credit: Rex 7 The Loose Women star admitted she felt 'faint' at times while filming the show Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 7 Sue said she has taken control of her life again with the use of Dexcom Credit: Dexcom 7 Sue said she is chuffed with her Corrie legacy as the star exited the soap after 25 years Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Behind-the-scenes, Sue, 61, was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes over 20 years ago, and while she's known for her strength on screen, the star admitted at times she'd feel faint while filming. But the star has now revealed that the use of Dexcom , a continuous glucose monitor , has helped give her back control of her life. Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Sue said: "I think there is a lot of misunderstanding around diabetes, people tell you can't eat chocolate or sugar - but where I struggle with my diabetes is when I'm about to go on stage or when I'm about to go on Loose Women or live shows. "Before I go on I'd have to prick my finger and check if my sugar is stable enough to get me to the interval or do I need to eat." Advertisement READ MORE ON CORONATION STREET Sue admitted there has been times that she's felt "faint" on screen. "If I'm about to go on stage or live shows and I don't know if I'm going to make it if my sugars aren't stable enough, and I don't have time to prick my finger, you tend to think 'let me eat this thing now' and then you tend to feel the effects of it later or the middle of the show. "But with Dexcom, I just have to look at my phone and see my sugar levels, it takes all of the worry out of it." TV FUTURE After quitting the soap, Sue has now also revealed what her future TV career plans include and whether or not she'll join a rival soap. Advertisement Most read in News TV She told us: "I'm chuffed with my Coronation Street legacy, they gave me a wonderful send off and the ending that I asked for and I wanted Eileen's exit to mirror what I feel I'm doing and what I want other women to do - to live fearlessly, don't let fear hold you back, be who you want to be. "It's never too late to try something new, that's what I wanted for her, this realisation for her to go 'hang on a minute, I don't have to stay, I can do something completely different, all it takes is courage. Coronation Street's Eileen Grimshaw waves goodbye to the cobbles after 25 years "I think people forget that you either have courage or you don't, courage is a muscle, start really small and put yourself our of your comfort zone for a couple of minutes a day, enquire about book club or evening class, because that muscle really does." Sue said her final scenes "brought a tear to her eye" as she saw a row of taxis lined up down the street, with her character having worked at StreetCars taxi firm during her time on the soap. Advertisement "There were moments when I had a little wave of emotion, we filmed the final scene on a Thursday and we went out for dinner and I came back on the Friday to do some other scenes and at the end of that it was really weird feeling, but it felt right." The TV star admitted she now has the "freedom" to explore other passion projects after spending over two decades at ITV. She said: "It was the right time for me to go, the door is still open, my hearts there, my husband still works there, I still see them all. "But for now, it's absolutely the right thing, it's time for me to have some freedom, to not be committed to things, to do passion projects, which is why I'm going back to the theatre . Advertisement "I love doing Loose Women, there are other things I want to do and there is a lot more of the world I want to see." Although Sue has the freedom to join other soaps , she admitted her loyalties still lie with Corrie, saying: "I don't think so at this stage, I think I'm very committed to Corrie and Corrie has been very committed to me. "I've been incredibly fortunate and it gave me the opportunity that not many actresses have, to be at home, to be there for my son in the morning and put him to bed at night and to have a proper home life, whereas normally you have to go where the work is. "I've been extremely fortunate, it's not lost on me how lucky I've been, it has a big place in my heart." Advertisement SUE'S DECISION TO LEAVE Soap fans were devastated after it was announced that matriarch She said: "Weirdly enough I remember quite a long time before it came out that Helen was going, she rang me and said 'I just wanted to ring and tell you I'm leaving', and I went 'Helen, I just want to tell you I'm leaving as well'." A number of stars on the soap have been axed over the last few years amid budget cuts. However, Sue, who starred on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here in 2022, admitted she left the soap on her terms and had made the decision years ago. Advertisement "I made the decision to leave when I went and did the jungle, I'd known for a while, it had been a while in the planning," she said. HEALTH UPDATE Sue has opened up about wearing the Dexcom ONE+, a continuous glucose monitor that helps track her glucose levels to manage her Type 2 diabetes. Sue said: "Dexcom has made a big difference in my life, having diabetes and having decision fatigue - it can be a mental marathon all the time. "Diabetes is lifelong and the management is lifelong and you do get tired thinking about what you can eat and what impact it's going to have. Advertisement "What I love about Dexcom, it helps me see how my body is reacting to stress, food in real time. It stops me needing to guess but it tracks all the trends . Dexcom is a small, fast and easy to use, helping to simplify diabetes management for those with Type 2. Dexcom's new State of Type 2 Report - which looked at patients and doctors in the UK and other key European cities - discovered 72% of those living with Type 2 Diabetes believe that using a CGM device helps to improve their lives, a further 74% believe that it would also reduce the risk of complications. EXIT STORYLINE Sue said she told ITV bosses that she wanted her on-screen son Ryan Thomas to return as part of her exit storyline. Advertisement She said: "I asked for Ryan to come back, I rang him even before I rang Corrie to let him know I was leaving. I told him not to say anything and asked him to come back and he went 'I'd have to for my mother'. They asked me what plan of exit I'd like and I said I want Eileen to go off to Thailand to start her new life and Ryan to come back and take me." The theatre star said she now has the freedom work on various other projects after dedicating over two decades to the soap. "I won't miss being tied to people, I'm really enjoying my freedom and getting up in the morning and going to the gym and deciding what to do with my day," she continued. "Everything I do now are passion projects like going back to the theatre. Advertisement "I've got so much going on at the minute." Although Sue is no long on Corrie, she has her hands full with other TV jobs including being a panelist on Loose Women. But the star firmly hit back at rumours that the panel is feuding. Sue said: "I love it. I've known the girls for years, it's such a fun thing to do. It's that typical thing, Denise and I will disagree with something on the show, we're great mates, we've known each other for 26 years but then there are rumours that they've fallen out, we've not fallen out over anything. Advertisement "People don't say that when you see Match of the Day, can we not please move on. "It is one big family and a huge amount of loyalty. We're very honest and brave and we put ourselves out there and in order to do that we have to feel very safe. "We don't wear our heart on our sleeve and talk about things like that when you don't feel safe. "There aren't clashes, we're making our programme and doing our job - it's just different opinions, we're not falling out with each other. I get on with everybody, I love them all. It's just really nice ." Advertisement Last month it was announced that . Speaking about her Loose Women future, Sue said: "Nobody knows what's happening in TV, I'm just getting on with what I'm doing in my life and I'm just enjoying it. "I've had a great time on it, I've had a great ride, I don't know what will happen in the future - I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow or the next hour." 7 Sue has hit back at rumours that the Loose Women panel is feuding Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Advertisement 7 The actress revealed the moment she knew she wanted to leave the soap Credit: ITV 7 Sue said she now has the 'freedom' to work on passion projects after over two decades on the soap Credit: Getty
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Tim Lovejoy replaced on Sunday Brunch by reality star as he takes a break from show
TIM Lovejoy is to be replaced by a former Geordie Shore star after taking a break from Sunday Brunch. The TV host has hosted the programme alongside 6 Tim Lovejoy is being replaced by a former Geordie Shore star as he takes a break from Sunday Brunch Credit: Rex 6 Vicky Pattison has confirmed that she is stepping in to replace him temporarily Credit: Instagram 6 The TV regular has been a guest on the show many times (pictured with Ella Henderson) Credit: Instagram It means that a rather unlikely face has been brought in to co-host alongside Simon and she is one of Britain's most prominent reality stars. Vicky Pattison has confirmed that she will be stepping into The star confirmed the news on Instagram as she begged her millions of followers to "wish me luck" as she shared a collection of images from her times on the show as a guest in previous years. Vicky said: "I HAVE SOME EXCITING NEWS!!!! Read More on Sunday Brunch "As a long time friend of @sundaybrunchc4 it is an absolute HONOUR to be wearing a slightly different hat this week! "I will be joining my good pal @rimmersimon as his co-host while the lovely @timlovejoy_official has a very well deserved break!!! "I am buzzing like an old fridge to chat to all of our gorgeous guests, eat some delicious food and hopefully give anyone watching and nursing a hangover a bit of light comedy reprieve. "See you bright and early Sunday my loves... and wish me luck." Most read in News TV The TV personality was soon inundated with a whole host of supportive comments from fans who shared their excitement at her major new role. One wrote: "Looking forward to this." Channel 4's Sunday Brunch host in very awkward blunder as he forgets star's name and hosting a show with her As another added: "Check you out Mrs! You're going to smash it!" It is Vicky's first venture back into daytime TV since her nine-month hosting stint on Loose Women in 2016. A synopsis for Vicky's debut episode as host, reads: "Simon Rimmer and guest presenter Vicky Pattison host the food and chat show. Rosie Jones tells us about her new Channel 4 sitcom, Pushers. "Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale gives us the lowdown on the band's new album. " Radio Breakfast Show." 6 Vicky will make her first hosting appearance this Sunday Credit: Instagram 6 She has appeared as a guest many times over the years Credit: Rex Features 6 Tim is having a well-deserved break from the show Credit: Rex Features
