Kate Ferdinand has admitted to crying ‘every single day for a year’ when she first moved in with husband Rio and his three children.
Kate and retired footballer Rio fell in love two years after his wife Rebecca tragically lost her battle with cancer and the pair got married last year but the former TOWIE star has revealed they struggled when she first moved in.
In a new interview, the 28-year-old explained how she felt isolated when she first started living with Rio and his kids, Lorenz, 13, Tate, 11, and eight-year-old Tia.
“I cried every single day when I first moved in with Rio. It was an incredibly difficult time…” she told You magazine.
“Nothing in the house was mine; everyone called it ‘Rio’s house’. All the photographs were of Rebecca and the children. I had no place.
“I remember after six months becoming obsessed with wanting Molton Brown Rhubarb & Rose soap that I always have at home, just to have a smell I knew. I bought a bottle and put it downstairs but it got taken away.
“As stupid as it sounds, that crushed me, but what was making me feel more isolated was if I said those things out loud people would think I was pathetic and selfish.”
CHECK OUT Kate and Rio's relationship from the start
Kate Wright and Rio Ferdinand relationship timeline - slider
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Kate Wright and Rio Ferdinand's relationship timeline: Swipe through to see how their romance has blossomed
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January 2017: Rio's spotted leaving Kate's house
Rumours first started to circulate about a possible romance between footballer Rio Ferdinand and TOWIE star Kate Wright back in January 2017, after Rio was spotted leaving her house in Essex.Kate had recently split from her co-star Dan Edgar, while Rio's wife Rebecca sadly passed away in 2015 after a short battle with cancer.
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July 2017: Kate and Rio spotted out together
Kate and Rio officially went public with their relationship, after being spotted out for a romantic drink in London. Read more on that here.
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July 2017: Kate and Rio go Instagram official
Kate and Rio went Insta official when Rio shared an adorable family snap featuring Kate and his three kids wearing matching trainers.
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July 2017: Kate and Rio go Instagram official
Kate then shared a similar pic, confirming she's been spending time with Rio's family.
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August 2017: Kate makes her debut on Rio's Instagram
In August 2017, Rio shared a snap from his family holiday in Portugal featuring Kate bang in the middle. He captioned the photo, 'Decent day with the fam ❤ufe0f '
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September 2017: Kate quits showbiz to focus on new family
Kate Wright reveals she's quit showbiz and reality TV in order to focus on being a step-mum to Rio's three kids, Lorenz, Tate and Tia.She said, "I'm taking a step back from the public eye, I want to keep my life private as I lived my previous relationship on TOWIE, my priority right now is Rio and the family."
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September 2017: Kate and Rio move in together
Speculation starts to mount over Kate and Rio's living situation, as Kate posts a number of workout selfies from Rio's home gym.
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October 2017: Kate shares first couple picture with Rio
After months of keeping us waiting and teasing pictures on Instagram, Kate finally posted her and Rio's first couple picture. And it's hilarious.
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October 2017: Kate and Rio holiday in Dubai
In October, Kate and Rio enjoyed a romantic holiday together in Dubai.
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October 2017: Kate shares Halloween snap of Rio's kids
Seemingly stepping up to her role as step-mum, Kate shared a (slightly terrifying) picture of Rio's kids dressed up for Halloween on Instagram.
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November 2017: Kate and Rio prepare for first Christmas together
In November 2017, Rio posted his first picture of him and Kate together with a festive post on Instagram.
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December 2017: Rio shares ADORBS couple pic on Instagram
After months of keeping their romance under wraps, the couple are now living the PDA life all over social media.
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December 2017: Kate spends Christmas with Rio and his kids
Rio shared another family snap, revealing Kate was spending Christmas with him and his three children. And their matching PJs are TOO much.
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January 2018
To mark the end of 2017, Rio shared a post dedicated to Kate. Below the cute throwback snap he wrote, 'To say 2017 has been a tough year would be a huge understatement. Some dark moments but brightness has been spread around me and mine by this one in many different forms. Christmas being just 1 example, all the thoughtful little details that make things that much better for all of us ud83dude18 little throwback pic.'
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January 2018: Kate also shares touching throwback
Kate also took to Instagram to reflect on the last year, paying tribute to Rio and his family. She wrote, '2017.... the hardest but most rewarding year yet! Ups & downs but I have gained 4 of the most precious people ud83eudd17.... Happy new year everyone, I hope your year is filled with health & happiness, keep your loved ones close ❤ufe0f❤ufe0f .'
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January 2018: Kate and Rio in Disneyland
Kate and Rio are the definition of couple goals as they pay a visit to Disneyland Paris.
![kate-rio](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5a8d/8f4c/b68c/0839/b360/0744/Screen%20Shot%202018-02-21%20at%202.57.53%20PM.png?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
January 2018: Kate and Rio's daughter Tia wear matching outfits
Just when we thought Kate and Rio couldn't get any more adorable, Kate posts a super sweet snap wearing a matching outfit with Rio's daughter Tia. Our hearts!
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March 2018: Kate pays tribute to Rio's children
She wrote, 'Happy Mother's Day to my lovely mum ud83dudc97 I love you so much. Although I am lucky to have my mum here with me today I can't help but feel so overwhelmed and full of emotions that both Rio and the children don't have their mums with them today. 'We are living in a house full of grief trying to get through and days like today just feel so tough. Celebrate your mother's and keep them close. ud83dudc97 & happy Mother's Day to all the step mums out there it's a hard role that I don't think anyone often gets the credit they deserve for it. If you aren't being celebrated make sure u know u r doing an amazing job.' [sic]
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May 2018: Kate reveals Rio's kids have been begging them to have a baby
Kate revealed, "At the beginning, I could never imagine the kids would talk about the future with me. When I'd pick them up from school they'd say I was an aunt, then it turned to their dad's girlfriend and now they say I'm their step-mum. "On a daily basis, they'll ask 'when are you giving us a baby brother or sister?' I have to say 'not yet'. They'll say 'when do you want to get married, we want to be bridesmaids'."
![kate-rio](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5bda/f792/5b2c/d808/229e/0c6b/shutterstock_editorial_9670134bp_huge.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
May 2018: Rio thanks ‘beautiful girlfriend’ Kate in heartfelt BAFTA speech
Rio picked up the award for best documentary at the ceremony following his touching documentary Rio Ferdinand: Being Mum and Dad, which focussed on dealing with grief and raising his three children after his wife died in 2015.He said, "I'm just pleased to say that this documentary has played a part in propelling me forward into a period of happiness in my life now where my kids are very happy. I've got a beautiful girlfriend now and we are making steps in the right direction."
![kate-rio](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5bda/f82f/5b2c/d808/229e/0c7b/rio-ferdinand-kate-wright-relationship-timeline.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
May 2018: Kate praises Rio after BAFTA win with beautiful post
She wrote, 'My baby won a bafta!!! Overwhelmed with emotion for you... Feels strange to be happy through winning something through sadness, but I'm so happy for you, for raising awarness and helping others. You are amazing, here is to the future , but always keeping the past in our hearts. I love you ❤ufe0f.' [sic]
![kate-rio](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5bda/f8a4/5b2c/d808/229e/0c84/rio-ferdinand-kate-wright.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
May 2018: Rio opened up about plans to marry Kate
Rio told the Daily Star, "We do talk about it. But I'm not going to sit here and give you a date."
![kate-rio](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5bda/f94e/5b2c/d808/229e/0c93/kate-wright-rio-ferdinand-engagement.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
November 2018: Rio and Kate got ENGAGED!
Rio and Kate shared photos on Instagram, revealing that Rio had proposed to Kate on holiday in Abu Dhabi with his kids' approval. Rio wrote, ''She said yes ud83dudc8d ❤ufe0f How these 3 kids kept it a secret I'll never know ud83eudd37ud83cudffd♂ufe0f❤ufe0f❤ufe0f❤ufe0f❤ufe0f❤'. [sic]Kate added, 'The perfect end to our holiday ... How could the answer not be yes ❤ufe0f❤ufe0f.' [sic]
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Kate opened up about ‘losing’ herself trying to become ‘the perfect woman’ and shared how being compared to Rio’s wife ‘crushed’ her.
“When I’d cook something, someone would say, “Rebecca didn’t do it like that,” and I’d smile but inside I’d feel crushed,” she added.
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Kate and Rio credit the making of their intimate BBC documentary Rio and Kate: Becoming a Step Family with helping them talk through their issues.
The documentary follows Kate as she tries to integrate into Rio’s family in the months leading up to their wedding.
Kate announced the documentary in an Instagram post last month and wrote, “This is a hugely important and personal project for @rioferdy5 and I. For the last year we have been filming a new @bbcone documentary ‘Rio and Kate: Becoming a Step Family’
“We have been on such a journey and we really hope the film will help other step families and those experiencing the journey of grief 🙏🏻 coming soon ❤️.”
Rio and Kate: Becoming a Step Family airs on Monday 10th February at 9pm on BBC One.