‘I only live in the present’
Katie Piper on Loose Women and helping others to stay positive
When we get Katie Piper on the phone for a natter, the Loose Women newbie and bestselling author is enjoying a child-free moment of peace and quiet.
“I’ve just sat down in a quiet house with no kids and I can give you my full attention. It’s luxurious – this never happens,” laughs Katie, 37, who is mum to daughters Belle, seven, and Penelope, three, with her husband Richard Sutton.
We’re catching up with the model and presenter to hear all about her new book, A Little Bit Of Faith: Hopeful Affirmations For Every Day Of The Year. Full of hope and warmth, the book, which is Katie’s ninth, offers readers 365 affirmations to inspire positivity and help them overcome challenging times.
Katie herself knows a thing or two about those. In 2008, aged 24, she survived an acid attack that had been arranged by her ex-boyfriend. But rather than let the incident defeat her, Katie used her experience to set up the Katie Piper Foundation to help burns survivors.
Here, Katie tells us how thrilled she was to land the
Loose Women gig and why she wants her daughters to have a good work ethic…
How have the last 18 months been for you and your family?
I think myself and my husband now know we never want to be school teachers. An extra level of respect has developed, especially for people like supermarket workers and delivery drivers. When I was in college, I worked at Tesco, as my parents said I needed to earn money, and it really set me up to be the person I am now.
Will you encourage your daughters to get jobs once they’re old enough?
Definitely.They will have to get jobs because I’m not going to support them! There’s your headline, “I’m not going to support my kids!” But no, they do need to learn about the importance of earning their own money and respecting people.
Do you worry about them using social media when they’re older?
My ethos in the affirmation book is I only live in the present tense, so I don’t spend my life worrying about things that haven’t happened yet. And with a three and a seven-year-old, it’s not something that’s on their radar right now.
How do you deal with trolling?
I’m lucky as I generally have a really positive following. The sort of people who follow me are looking for affirmations and self-help stuff. I actually find social media a positive place and, as a woman, I find it empowering as I’m able to use it to earn money while I’m at home with my children. In the olden days, women could only earn money by leaving the house. It’s almost a feminist movement as we’re opening up revenue lines to women and still allowing them to be mothers.
You joined the panel of Loose Women in August. What was it like when you got the call?
I had an interview on Zoom first of all. I know the team from being on there as a guest and then when I got the call I was just really thrilled to be asked. I think you get to show people a different side to you, which I like. It’s one of those programmes that’s been a part of everyone’s lives.
Congratulations on your new book A Little Bit Of Faith...
Thank you. If you’d told me before that I’d be publishing my ninth book, I never would have believed you. I will never stop being grateful to be doing this and to have such a loyal following. Like so many other people, I’ve spent so many years doing jobs just to get paid, so now to have a career doing something I’m passionate about is amazing.
What was the inspiration behind the book?
Affirmations and self-help have always been something I’ve written about in my books and leaned on myself as a consumer. Then, in the first lockdown when we were all really scared and not many people were working, I thought,“What can I offer on Instagram that people don’t have to buy?” I wrote an affirmation book five years ago and I decided instead of putting the link to buy it, I would read it out every day. It grew and we became a community and I started explaining how I use the affirmations. I spoke to my publisher and said I wanted to write a book that was like what I was doing on Instagram.There are aspects of Christianity and spirituality in it, but there’s something for everyone.
‘I find social media an empowering, positive place’
Do you and your family go to church regularly?
I was a dedicated two-days-a-week churchgoer. Then when I met my husband and work got busier, I wasn’t able to go as often. But when we got married, we enrolled in a course together. We did a six-week Christian marriage course, but
I kind of had to drag him there! Me and the kids go now and then, but for me the way I feel connected to God is through this app called Lectio 365. It gives you a daily devotion and there’s a prayer and scripture from the Bible that relates to that prayer.
Finally, you’ve created a fabulous new bedding and interiors collection. How did that come about?
For a long time now, my bedroom has been a sanctuary to me. It’s so important to have a peaceful, lovely space to retreat to and sleep in. I’ve always loved treating myself to new bedding and accessories and that’s exactly the joy I hope my collection will bring.
Katie’s book A Little Bit Of Faith: Hopeful Affirmations For Every Day Of The Year is out now, in bookstores and online. Her bedding collection is available from bedeckhome.com