Reality TV star Kerry Katona has made a powerful statement about her past struggles with drug addiction, revealing she deliberately refuses to have surgery to repair a significant hole in her nose caused by years of cocaine abuse.
A Living Reminder of a Dark Past
The 45-year-old former Atomic Kitten singer explained that the physical damage serves as a crucial reminder to never return to her former lifestyle. Her nose is reportedly on the brink of collapse after the sustained abuse, but she has chosen not to go under the knife.
"My kids know about my mistakes, and about the drugs," Kerry told The Sun. "I even have a hole in my nose that I refuse to get fixed, and I've shown it to my children, because for me it was a reminder that if I put another line of coke up my nose, it could collapse."
She emphasised her resolve, stating: "I didn't want to get it fixed because I wanted to make sure I never went down that path again – and I know I never will."
A Lifelong Battle with Addiction
Katona's journey with substances began tragically early. She was first introduced to drugs at the age of 14 by her mother, Sue, who gave her speed while telling her it was sherbet. At the time, Kerry was in foster care but would sneak out to visit her mum at a council flat in Warrington.
This early exposure spiralled into a regular cocaine habit. She described being brought up around "rough thieves and druggies" and found it incredibly difficult to better herself as they continually dragged her back down. The hardest part of quitting, she confessed, was leaving behind the people she thought were her friends, who did not want her to succeed.
Last year, Kerry underwent major reconstructive surgery to rebuild and strengthen the structure of her nose, with surgeons using a piece of her rib to stabilise it. However, the hole in her septum may never fully heal.
Building a New Life and Career
Today, Kerry maintains a strong support network, including her close friend Katie Price and her five children: Molly, 24, Lilly-Sue, 22, Heidi, 18, Max, 17, and Dylan-Jorge, 11. She is also in a "really good relationship" with personal trainer Paolo Margaglione, 33, whom she met on Celebs Go Dating.
Professionally, Kerry has found significant financial success on the adult content platform OnlyFans, which she joined in 2020 during the Coronavirus pandemic. She has previously revealed she earned around £175,000 in her first month and millions in total, money that helped her recover from financial ruin.
She was declared bankrupt in 2008 after failing to pay an £82,000 tax bill, an event that led her to contemplate taking her own life. She filed for bankruptcy again in 2013 and faced further financial proceedings in 2018.
Now, Kerry says she has no plans to leave OnlyFans and even hinted that a well-known celebrity nearing 70 is considering joining the platform. "For me, this is all about women celebrating themselves and their sexuality without shame," she explained, while firmly stating she would not want any of her own children to follow her into that line of work.
