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Kerry Katona Profile |
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Birth Date: September 6, 1980
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Birth Place: Warrington, Cheshire, England, UK
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Birth Name: Kerry Jayne Elizabeth Katona
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Height: 5'3"
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Biography |
Kerry Katona is an English television
presenter, magazine columnist and former pop singer with
girl band Atomic Kitten.
Kerry Katona was brought up by her mother and her first
memory was of her mother's attempted suicide. When she was
very young she was placed in care and raised by four sets of
foster parents. During that time, she went to eight
different schools.
She left school at age 16 to become an 'exotic dancer' and
then joined a dance troupe that toured Europe. She gained
fame for being a member of the girl group Atomic Kitten.
However she left in 2001 when she became pregnant. The band
enjoyed limited success in the UK, but the group had a major
hit in South East Asia with Cradle while she was a member.
She later admitted to never singing on any of the group's
songs, although her spoken voice was featured on the group's
biggest hit "Whole Again" which reached #1 shortly after she
left the girl group. In 2001, a nude photograph of her
appeared in the UK tabloid newspaper The Sunday Sport.
On January 5, 2002 she married Westlife star Brian McFadden
at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Rathfeigh,
County Meath, becoming Kerry McFadden. The couple had their
honeymoon in Mauritius and have two daughters: Molly Marie
McFadden (born August 31, 2001, Dublin, Ireland), and
Lilly-Sue McFadden (born February 3, 2003, Dublin, Ireland).
After marrying McFadden, she moved into television,
appearing on and presenting a mix of light entertainment
programmes such as Britain's Sexiest..., Loose Women and
Elimidate. In February 2004, Katona won the third British
series of reality TV show I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of
Here! and in July of that year, Brian and Kerry appeared
together on The Keith Barret Show. She also appeared as a
judge on the RTÉ talent show You're A Star, which was used
to select Ireland's entry to the Eurovision Song Contest.
McFadden and Katona separated in September 2004 and Kerry
reverted to her maiden name. McFadden wrote a song on his
solo album Irish Son called Be True To Your Woman about the
failed relationship. The divorce resulted in a period of
depression and drug abuse for Katona for which she went into
rehab.
In June 2006, Katona and McFadden were discussing custody
over their children because of Katona's admitted drug abuse.
Kerry told BBC Radio 4 that she has been clean ever since.
Katona has since starred in an Irish drama called Showbands.
In July 2005, she headlined My Fair Kerry on ITV1, where she
was taught airs and graces to transform herself from ladette
to lady. Despite the title of this programme, the conclusion
she publicly drew from the programme was that "airs and
graces don't mean nothing when you've got kids to look
after."
In 2005, Dave Cunningham, a former teenage sweetheart, moved
in with her for seven months, but Katona is now married to
taxi driver Mark Croft. She was almost 8 months pregnant
when they tied the knot.
Katona and Croft were married at Gretna Green in Scotland on
Wednesday, February 14, 2007 in a private ceremony with 2
friends as witnesses.
She gave birth to a baby girl named Heidi Elizabeth Croft on
February 20 2007, six days after her wedding. She was born
at Warrington General Hospital weighing 5lbs. The baby was
six weeks' premature and delivered by Caesarean section
after Katona went into labour early.
She was announced in late September 2007 as expecting her
fourth child and her second with husband Mark Croft. She was
feared to have suffered a miscarriage but further
examination found the fetus was still alive and is due in
May 2008.
Although her celebrity status has declined, Katona has a
regular column in OK! Magazine, has had the job of being the
face of Iceland in newspaper and television advertisements
and has also been paid to promote Asda. She is represented
by Max Clifford.
She is a Patron of The Shannon Bradshaw Trust, a charity
based in Warrington, helping children with life threatening
conditions, and their families.
On July 15, 2007 Katona was allegedly taken hostage with her
husband and daughter at their home in Wilmslow. Three
burglars held them captive and allegedly even threatened to
kill them, taking the family's mobile phones to make sure
they could not contact anyone. Katona was allegedly held at
knifepoint downstairs whilst other burglars forced her
husband to show them where the valuables were kept. None of
them were physically harmed but the burglars eventually left
with a Blue BMW and other valuables, the total loss being in
the region of £100-150,000. The family are currently staying
with relatives and are unsure whether to return to the
house, which they moved into about two months previously. On
Tuesday night, 19 July, Police found the car, which was not
damaged, 10 miles away on Reeves Road in Chorlton,
Manchester. It was taken to a secure garage to be
forensically examined.
On July 19, Katona was admitted to The Priory hospital
suffering from bi-polar disorder. Her spokesman, Max
Clifford, stated she had suffered from the disorder for some
time but her recent symptoms were brought on by the armed
robbery.
Meanwhile, Katona is engaged in an ongoing legal action by
former husband Brian McFadden. He is attempting to gain
custody over the children fathered whilst married to Katona.
The grounds include Katona's drug use (and alleged
addiction) and her mental state (she was recently treated
for bi-polar disorder, a condition which can be caused
and/or exacerbated by the use of certain illegal drugs).
In August 2007, Kerry refused to take a drug test to prove
that she can take care of her two children. |
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Other
Information |
Formerly a member of pop group Atomic Kitten
Daughter, Molly Marie, born at Dublin's Mount Carmel
Hospital. [August 31, 2001]
Went to Padgate High School in Warrington, Cheshire. The
school was also briefly attended by broadcaster Chris Evans.
Went by the name Kerry McFadden during her marriage to
ex-Westlife singer Brian McFadden.
February 3, 2003 welcomed daughter Lilly-Sue. The baby
weighed 7lbs 7oz.
Winner of "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!" (2002) in
February 2004.
Spent part of her childhood in foster care.
She was voted Celebrity Mum of the Year in 2002 and 2005, in
a poll for chocolate brand Quality Street.
Bust size at age 17: 36DD
Bust size in 2005: 36DD (after implants)
The book, "Kerry - Story of a Survivor; The Biography of
Britain's Most Inspiring Star" was published in 2005 by
Blake Publishing (UK) on Hardcover. It was written by Emily
Herbert and is 288 pages long.
Underwent laser surgery to remove a tattoo of 'Brian
McFadden (II)''s name from her back.
Wed her second husband at Gretna Green.
Has three daughters: Molly Marie, Lilly Sue, Heidi
Elizabeth.
She gave birth to a baby girl four weeks premature at
England's Warrington General Hospital on 20 February 2007.
Heidi Elizabeth was born at 1pm weighing 5 pounds, delivered
by Caesarian section. |
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since October 29, 2007