EXCLUSIVE: Loose Women star Katie Piper refuses to allow her ex boyfriend’s crimes impact how she parents her daughters insisting she wants them to enjoy dating and that there are lovely men out there
Katie Piper defiantly says that she will not allow her daughters to be impacted by her 2008 acid attack(Image: PR Handout)
Loose Women panelist Katie Piper has been an inspiration to the entire nation following her devastating acid attack which was organised by her ex boyfriend in 2008. Katie was left with life-long horrific injuries.
Katie, 42, who has daughters Belle, 12, and Penelope, eight, with husband Richard James Sutton told the Mirror that despite the terrifying ordeal, she refuses to allow let her traumatic experience negatively impact the mental and emotional health of her children.
She said: “I’m probably the opposite of overly protective because I feel really strongly about you shouldn’t bring your past or your traumas into your kids lives. So many kids are anxious nowadays from social media or whatever it is.
“They’ve got so much exposure, so I don’t want to put that on my girls. I want them to be laid back, I want them to have their own experiences. I’m heading towards that area, she’s not dating but my daughter is in secondary school.”
Katie does her best to instil in them that that they do not need male validation to feel whole as a person.
Until now, Katie has been lucky enough to shield her eldest daughter away from those heartfelt discussions, but now that Belle Elizabeth is 12 years old and at secondary school, the reality of her situation is paramount.
She said: “As a mum, one of the most important things I try to teach my daughters is that their value isn’t based on how they look, but on who they are.
“With Belle now being 12 and entering those years where appearance and social pressures can start to feel louder, I make a conscious effort to focus on qualities like kindness, resilience, creativity and confidence.”
She continued: “I also try to model self-love myself. Children learn so much from what they see, so I am mindful of how I speak about my own body and appearance. We have open conversations about social media, comparison and unrealistic beauty standards, and I encourage my daughters to celebrate what makes them unique rather than striving to be like someone else.”
Like any parent, Katie wants her kids to grow up confident and knowing how much they are loved.
She added: “Most importantly, I want them to know they are loved unconditionally. Self-love starts with feeling accepted and valued exactly as you are, and that’s something I hope both of my girls carry with them throughout their lives.”Confidence has been a hard won battle for Katie who was left with burns to her face, neck, and throat and was blinded in one eye. She also suffered internal injuries due to swallowing acid.
Katie started dating Daniel Lynch in 2008 but his controlling attitude resulted in him brutally attacking her in a hotel. After she ended their toxic relationship, he incessantly called her and was speaking to her when the acid attack took place, in Golders Green, north London.
Daniel was jailed for life in 2009 for organising the “pure, calculated and deliberate evil” acid attack. Stefan Sylvestre, who was 19 at the time agreed to throw acid in Katie’s face after being approached by Daniel. Stefan was given a life sentence with a minimum term of six years after admitting to GBH. He was released in 2019.
Despite, her horrific ordeal Katie is still positive about men and believes there are lots of good guys out there. She added: “I think there are some lovely men out there and my life is full of more good men than bad and I think the message I have always given my daughters is that it’s fun to date.
“Everyone wants to feel wanted but its not good to wrap up validation in like the male gaze. Feeling good, feeling worthy it’s like it’s an inside job and don’t base like your levels of confidence in something that’s so fragile and so surface.”
Since the attack, Katie’s career has soared and not only is she a regular on the Loose Women panel, she is busy with endorsements and is the founder of her acclaimed foundation.
Katie Piper has partnered with Dove Whole Body Deodorant to give Brits a confidence-boosting refresh to help them beat the “evening bail” precisely when they need it most.
For confidential support or visit womensaid.co.uk If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse www.aafda.org.uk
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