How ‘comeback queen’ Kerry found happiness at 40
● As she celebrates her milestone birthday, Kerry Katona hopes for her happy-ever-after with boyfriend Ryan
● She makes peace with her troubled background
● Closer psychologist Emma Kenny says that if it wasn’t for her grit and determination, the star’s life could have turned out dangerously different
Kerry Katona turns 40 next week, and while some may find that milestone daunting, the mum-of-five has plenty to celebrate.
The loved-up star is happily settled in to her new house in Sussex with boyfriend Ryan Maloney, 30, and is even hoping for a proposal for her birthday. She’s also close to realising a dream, as she’s in the process of opening her first online clothing store, Kerry Boutique – and she’s earning over £6k a month with her OnlyFans account.
It’s a far cry from Kerry’s notoriously chequered past, which includes cocaine abuse, the heartbreak of three failed marriages, money troubles, and a devastating struggle with mental illness.
And Closer’s psychologist Emma Kenny says it’s testament to the star’s inner strength that she’s in such a great place as she kicks off the next decade in her roller coaster life. “When you have trauma from a very early age, it can either kill you or create you,” says Emma. “With Kerry, she has always dug deep and bounced back stronger.
“She’s gone through massive grief, trauma, addiction and mental illness, but now she has a strong family unit, her career is back on track, and she’s feeling body positive.
They say life begins at 40 and I think that’s true for Kerry.
“She really has ‘made it’ now. She has loads of fans, money in the bank again, a stable relationship, well-turned out children, and she looks healthy. She knows her life could have been a lot different, though.”
TROUBLED CHILDHOOD
Kerry recently reflected on how far she’s come from her drugaddled days on her YouTube channel. Confessing that she’s “done with living in a world of self-pity” after blaming others when things “went wrong”, she said she’s now taking responsibility for her life.
She said, “I’ve been clean for 12 years… No one forced me to put the coke up my nose. Obviously, circumstances and the people around me didn’t
help, but I have to learn to accept it and let go… I’ve struggled ever since to get back on top – but now I’m on my way back up.”
And as she sorted through her new clothing range, she jokingly added, “Look at me – I’ve gone from buying bags of coke to boxes of shoes!”
Kerry spent much of her troubled childhood in care and was “fed drugs” at 14 by her mum, Sue. After joining girl band Atomic Kitten aged 17, she married Westlife’s Brian McFadden in 2002, but she was broken-hearted to discover he’d cheated on her.
A second marriage, to ex-drug dealer Mark Croft in 2007, then spiralled into cocaine addiction, and Kerry was also diagnosed with bipolar disorder and depression. Then, in 2011, she was declared bankrupt. She went on to wed ex rugby player George Kay, but they split in 2017 and he tragically died from a suspected drug overdose last year. Just two weeks ago, Kerry called all three husbands “dogs” in a rant about her marriages.
Today, Kerry – who is mum to Molly, 18, Lily-Sue, 17, Heidi, 13, Max, 12, and six-year-old Dylan-Jorge – credits therapy and laughter for surviving such tumultuous times. She told fans on Instagram, “I’ve always found that humour after loooootssss of therapy always helps.”
And now, as she approaches this new chapter in her life, she has been excitedly trying on dresses for her milestone birthday. She’s also enjoyed a date night with Ryan at a hotel, where she kissed him in an Instagram video and gushed, “I love you”.
FAILED ROMANCES
The personal trainer has also been a huge support in her life transformation, and insiders reveal she’s secretly hoping for a birthday proposal.
“Kerry often jokingly drops hints to Ryan about a proposal, and friends wouldn’t be surprised if they got engaged on or around her birthday,” says a source. “Ryan wants to marry, and Kerry is hoping turning 40 will bring her the fairy tale ending she’s always wanted – a happy and long-lasting marriage.
“Kerry has been feeling torn about getting married for a fourth time because of her past failed romances, but now she’s about to turn 40 and she’s a lot wiser, it could be the perfect time to make that commitment. She sees this birthday as a positive milestone and the happiest decade of her life. In all honesty, she also knows she could very easily not have made it due to her traumatic past.”
Since getting together with Ryan two years ago, Kerry has undergone a massive lifestyle transformation, giving up alcohol and adopting a cleaner eating and exercise plan, resulting in her dropping 2st, going from a size 14 to toned size 6. She has swapped partying for yoga and has even set up a gym in their new home. The pair have an online workout company, M Fit, and Kerry’s OnlyFans account has given both her finances and her confidence an extra boost. She has 74,000 followers on the adult site, on which she charges fans to look at her sexy videos and images.
Emma Kenny adds, “Since being with Ryan, Kerry’s ramped up her fitness regime, and you can really see how exercise and healthy eating have transformed her life. I think Ryan has been really instrumental in helping her find her happy place. It seems like they bring out the best in each other, and he’s great with the kids, too, which is important for her.
“Kerry was given a bad start in life, but she’s the most successful care kid I’ve ever met – she’s gone above and beyond to better her life rather than go down the wrong path. She continues to be the ‘comeback queen’ because she’s the ‘girl next door’ everyone can relate to.
❛ THE WAY SHE BOUNCES BACK FROM THE BAD STUFF THROWN AT HER MAKES HER LIKEABLE ❜
REINVENTION
“She experienced such intense dysfunction when she was younger, and she’s been adamant not to do the same to her own children. The way she bounces back from all the bad she has thrown at her just makes her extremely likeable – and that’s shown by how popular she still is.
“As Kerry turns 40, she will be proud to know she hasn’t only done well, but she has done it fighting.
Her reinvention really is a testament to her strong, determined character – and she does it all with a big smile on her face.”