Kate Ferdinand, the former TOWIE star and wife of ex-footballer Rio Ferdinand, has revealed the emotional struggle she faced as a stepmother, particularly on her first Mother's Day after moving in with Rio and his children. The 34-year-old, who recently relocated her family to Dubai, shared her candid feelings on the couple's Blended podcast.
Kate, who is stepmother to Rio's three children from his late wife Rebecca Ellison—Lorenz, 18, Tate, 16, and Tia, 13—admitted she sobbed after not receiving a Mother's Day card. 'I wasn't a biological mum,' she said. 'I felt like I'd taken on the mum role. I really thought I might get a card from you, and I didn't get a card from you.' She added that she felt guilty for wanting recognition, given the children had lost their mother.
Despite the challenges, Kate has built a strong bond with her stepchildren. She recalled a moment when Tia reassured her that it was fine to call herself 'Mummy' without adding 'Kate'. On Instagram, Kate recently shared a photo of herself in a white polka dot bikini on a Dubai beach, captioning it 'Beach Saturdays', as she enjoys the family's new life in the UAE.
Rio's eldest son, Lorenz, paid tribute to both his biological mother and Kate on Mother's Day this year, sharing black-and-white photos of each with a 'Happy Mother's Day' message. Kate reshared the post, calling it 'all in the details'.
