Pete: “I tell my kids that looks aren’t everything”
Peter Andre opens up to Closer on his struggle to learn to love himself, and how he’s encouraging his children to grow up with more self-confidence
He was a pin-up in the ’90s, flaunting his famous rippling torso in music videos and photo shoots – but Peter Andre has been open about the lengths he went to in order to achieve his perfect physique, and his struggles with body dysmorphia.
Now Pete, 46, tells Closer that he is protective of his four children, wanting to ensure they don’t suffer from any of the insecurities that once plagued him.
He says, “I want to instil into my kids the idea that there are much more important things than how you look. Looks aren’t everything. Social media can be a fake place, with filters and Photoshop – it can make
young people think that’s what’s important. That’s why I love Stacey Solomon and Ricky Gervais on Instagram – they post real pictures.”
After rising to fame as a pop star and later starring on I’m A Celebrity! and his own reality shows, Pete is now widely known as a family man, with eldest children Junior, 13 and Princess, 11, from his marriage to Katie Price, 41, as well as Amelia, three, and Theo, two, with wife Emily MacDonagh, 29.
CHANGING PERSPECTIVES
And while he has dated models and pop stars in the past, Pete admits that his perspectives on love, attractiveness and relationships have changed with age.
He says, “I used to not understand it when people said, ‘It’s not about looks, it’s about personality’. I used to go, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah’. But actually, relationship-wise, that’s exactly what it is. It’s looks initially. Yes, you’ve got to be physically attracted to people at first. But, over time, it 100 per cent depends on how you get on. That ends up being the key factor as to whether relationships work or not.
“If you’re in love with someone, you can’t tell if they’ve put on a couple of kilos or got a couple of wrinkles. You don’t notice that, because you’ve fallen in love with their personality. You bypass everything else – even though Emily happens to be absolutely stunning, anyway.”
IMMENSE PRESSURE
While Pete has a busy work schedule, touring with his music, filming in the
States and launching different projects, his main role is as a dad.
He says, “My kids are my everything. Being a parent can be tough, but it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. Something I’m really trying to get them to do now is spend as much time outside as possible – Junior loves his Playstation. He’ll be 14 this week – he’s really becoming a man now. I’ve been strict, but I’m slowly letting the reins go with him.”
Despite wanting his kids to be as happy,
healthy and confident as can be, Pete admits he still struggles with his own insecurities, and says it’s only in the last few years that he’s been truly at peace in his body and mind.
He says, “I feel completely content at the moment. I’m so lucky to have what I have: my wonder woman wife, my kids, our home… The one thing I still struggle with is my confidence and body image.
I’m 46 and I’m in shape – but I’m still not comfortable walking around the beach with my shirt off. There’s always that worry or fear – I guess I built a rod for my own back in my 20s with that!
“There’s an immense pressure in society today with looks – I don’t want my kids to suffer from that. I want to teach them to love themselves.”
By Lily Smith
● Peter Andre has teamed up with Bulmers and The Orchard Project to help restore forgotten orchards to their former glory. See more at Theorchardproject.org.uk
‘I’m still not comfortable on the beach with my shirt off ’