66
What kind of role model do you want
to be for your daughters?
I just want to be my authentic self, which
should always be good enough for
everybody, not just your children.You’re full of wise advice. Have you
ever thought of becoming a life coach?
Oh God, don’t follow my life, no! People
might want a refund! I do enjoy writing –
and reading – self-help books, though.It’s been ten years since you launched
The Katie Piper Foundation. Did you
ever envisage how huge it would get?
No! It’s been a lot of hard work and
I’d never even worked in the charity
sector before, let alone in an office. It’s
been really uplifting. It’s taught me that
anything’s possible.Your Strictly Come Dancing partner
Gorka Marquez and his girlfriendGemma Atkinson became parents earlier
this month. Have you met baby Mia?
No, but she looks so sweet. I haven’t
phoned Gorka but we talk on Messenger
and I left a message saying I’m really
happy for them. They’re such a lovely
couple, it’s just brilliant news.Tell us about easyJet’s ‘Flybraries’...
It’s a great idea – easyJet are putting
children’s books in the seat pockets of
their planes so parents can use what’s
essentially dead time on a flight to
encourage their children to read. It’s a
great way of bonding with your child and,
as a mum myself, I wouldn’t like the idea
of being told to find extra time to read to
my kids. Extra time doesn’t exist!
KATIE PIPER HAS TEAMED UP WITH EASYJET TO LAUNCH
‘FLYBRARIES’, A UNIQUE IN-FLIGHT LIBRARY INITIATIVE. OVER
60,000 HARPERCOLLINS CHILDREN’S BOOKS WILL BE MADE
AVAILABLE IN PASSENGER SEAT-POCKETS OF ALL EASYJET
FLIGHTS DEPARTING THE UK OVER THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS.
INTERVIEW BY MICHELLE GARNETT
PHOTOGRAPHS BY JON ENOCH/EYEVINE
ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS BY INSTAGRAM, SPLASH NEWSOK!‘IFYOUDO
WHATBRINGS
YOUHAPPINESS
YOU’LLBE
FULFILLED’
Below: ‘I just
want to be my
authentic self,’
Katie tells us.
Left: Katie has
teamed up with
easyJet to put
children’s books
on planes