Katie Price has described the constant media coverage of her life as 'fascinating' and said she takes it as a compliment that people remain invested in her story. The 48-year-old former glamour model, who first rose to fame in the 1990s as Jordan, has been a fixture in tabloids for three decades.
Price on the relentless scrutiny
In an interview with the Press Association, Price reflected on the 'relentless' press coverage she has received throughout her career and its negative impact on her mental health. 'I'm not saying I've done things the best way – how I react to things and things like that – but I am real,' she said. 'I only started when I was 17. I had no media training and literally just lived my life how I thought to live it.'
Price acknowledged that her relationship with the media has changed over time, particularly with the rise of social media. 'My relationship with the press now is… because everything is on social media, they now have to find stuff for clickbait,' she told PA. 'I don't remember the last time I bought a newspaper, it's all online, everything now.'
A career in the spotlight
Price's career began in 1996 as a Page Three girl under her alter ego Jordan. She gained further fame on I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2004, where she met her future husband Peter Andre. Since then, she has appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, Loose Women, and starred in several of her own reality series.
Price said she has 'moved in with the times' and adapted to the shift towards digital media. 'I don't know how I've done it, but I have,' she added.
Impact on mental health
The model has previously spoken about suffering from major mental breakdowns and severe depression, which she says were worsened by constant media scrutiny. 'I used to have such a good relationship with (the media),' Price recalled. 'Then there was a 15-year period where they were just shocking towards me.'
She criticised journalists for not considering the consequences of their reporting. 'A lot of journalists don't care, because that's their job. They can write what they want, go home and have their life. They forget what they write sticks and affects you, affects the family. They were relentless and that didn't help with my breakdown.'
Recent marriage and media circus
Price, who has been engaged nine times and married four times, recently married businessman Lee Andrews. The couple drew attention last month when Price issued a series of social media appeals asking about Andrews' whereabouts, saying he had gone 'missing' in Dubai. She described the online speculation as a 'media circus'.
'It just fascinates me where people are so invested still in me and my life. I take it as a compliment,' she said.
New Sky series
Price's latest project is a new Sky four-part series titled Katie Price: Nothing To Hide, which promises insight into her 'turbulent life lived in the public eye'. The series will be available on Sky and streaming service Now from July 8.
