Katie Waissel shows off weight loss transformation after ‘looking in the mirror made her cry’

She's now a personal trainer

Katie Waissel

by Marianna Manson |
Updated on

Katie Waissel has opened up about kickstarting her weight loss journey, admitting that looking at herself in the mirror at one point made her cry.

After becoming a single mum to son Hudson in 2018, Katie says she made a promise to him that “I would do anything possible to rebuild my physical strength to not only play chase, football, throw him up in the air as he laughs, but to also make sure he is protected always as it is just him and I.”

Speaking of her body image at the time, she said, “Last summer, I was fresh off the boat from an international move, a first-time mum, and in the next chapter of rebuilding my life as a single parent and career change.

“I looked at myself in the mirror and cried. Not because I was horrified, but because I didn’t know how I would find the strength or time to do anything to make a positive change.”

CHECK OUT The X Factor omost shocking contestant transformations

Gallery

X Factor: The most shocking contestant transformations - STACKED

LEON JACKSON1 of 14
CREDIT: Instagram / WENN

Leon Jackson

This spiky-haired teen won X Factor waaaaay back in 2007, scoring a Christmas number one with a cover of Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey's When You Believe. And, while there's no denying that he was cute, the X Factor champion was definitely a bit too baby-faced for us to lust over properly. But, nowadays, he's looking VERY sexy indeed, after switching up everything from his hairstyle to his workout regime at the gym. He definitely looks good on it, doesn't he? Read more about Leon jackson's comeback career here.

FRANKIE COCOZZA2 of 14
CREDIT: Instagram / WENN

Frankie Cocozza

When Frankie Cocozza joined The X Factor back in 2011, he was a scruffy 18-year-old with birds nest hair and a LOT of eye makeup. Nowadays he looks far more mature and (dare we say it?) mega hot, sporting a wee bit of stubble and curl mousse in favour of his velvet jackets of old. We love his new look - how about you? Read more about his transformation here.

RAY QUINN3 of 14
CREDIT: Instagram / WENN

Ray Quinn

The X Factor star first burst into our lives as a sweet and fresh-faced teenager from Liverpool, starring as tormented child Anthony Murray in the Channel 4 soap opera, Brookside. When he was 18-years-old, he auditioned for The X Factor and survived right up until the show's final, where he lost out to Leona Lewis. Since then, we've seen him appear in Dancing On Ice and in several West End musicals - but, when he was dismissed from his record label in November 2007, he fell off the radar a little bit. Now he's back - and he's DEFINITELY become a fan of lifting weights, hasn't he? Read more about his transformation here.

EOGHAN QUIGG4 of 14
CREDIT: Instagram / WENN

Eoghan Quigg

Eoghan was just 16-year-old when he shot to fame in the ITV competition in 2008, and made it all the way to the final where he finished in third place. He landed a record deal after the show, but was sadly dropped when his debut single limped in at number 96 on the Official UK Singles Chart. Since then, Eoghan has turned his back on music – and instead has made a bit of a name for himself in Irish football. And he looks completely different, doesn't he? Read more about his transformation here.

CHRISTOPHER MALONEY5 of 14
CREDIT: Instagram / WENN

Chris Maloney

X Factor's Christopher Maloney has shocked fans after revealing he spent £60,000 on cosmetic surgery following a nervous breakdown. After coming third in the talent show back in 2012, the 37-year-old fell into a deep depression which made even getting out of bed a struggle. Since leaving the show, Christopher has undergone three hair transplants, an eye lift and two nose jobs. He has also had teeth veneers. He told The Mirror: "I feel so much happier for it." Read more about his transformation here.

CHLOE MAFIA6 of 14
CREDIT: Instagram / WENN

Chloe Mafia

Remember when Chloe Mafia auditioned for The X Factor in 2010? Well, it seems like rejection from the show has done her no harm, as the Wakefield lass looks unrecognisable these days. In fact, Chloe - now known as Chloe Khan - is now a MILLIONAIRE and living a life of luxury overseas. She said: "My lifestyle is pretty incredible now – it's mansions and private jets and everything else that I could only imagine when I was younger." The money allowed her to completely reinvent herself with cosmetic surgery and designer clothes - and she's confessed to a boob job or two, as well as rhinoplasty. Read more about her transformation here.

JAHMENE DOUGLAS7 of 14
CREDIT: Instagram / WENN

Jahmene Douglas

The shy and retiring singer shot to fame, thanks to his modest nature and sweet-as-an-angel voice, back on The X Factor in 2012. He finished in second place, and has since gone on to find success as a singer; in fact, his second album (which features collaborations with the likes of Diane Warren) is currently in the works. But Nicole Scherzinger's protégé hasn't just been working on his music; he's also been working on his look, too. Think makeup and VERY well manicured eyebrows - we're jealous. To critics of his new look, he said simply: "Any judgement of beauty will always be an opinion." Read more about his transformation here.

LEIGH-ANNE PINNOCK8 of 14
CREDIT: Instagram / WENN

Leigh-Anne Pinnock

One of the biggest X Factor success stories, Leigh-Anne Pinnock is now 1/4 of Little Mix - but she's just as prone to a makeover as her fellow former X Factor contestants. The songstress recently went and dyed her dark locks a bright shade of blonde - and she looked incredible! Read more about her transformation here.

SAM BAILEY9 of 14
CREDIT: Instagram / Rex Features

Sam Bailey

The mum-of-three burst into our lives as the prison guard with a very powerful voice - and we thought she looked beautiful. But there's no denying that the X Factor winner looks absolutely phenomenal nowadays, sporting a much more polished look.

CHER LLOYD10 of 14
CREDIT: Instagram / Rex Features

Cher Lloyd

Cher surprised us all when she burst out into R'n'B song Turn My Swag On back in 2010 - but she's ditched her rapper style for a far more polished look nowadays. In fact, Cher looks a LOT like her X Factor mentor, Cheryl Cole, nowadays, doesn't she?

GEORGE SHELLEY11 of 14
CREDIT: Instagram / Rex Features

George Shelley

George first appeared as a baby-face solo artist when he auditioned with Britney Spears's Toxic back in 2012. Now in his 20s, he looks VERY different - with many labelling the Union J as the ULTIMATE man candy. Thoughts?

JEDWARD12 of 14
CREDIT: Rex Features

Jedward

John and Edward Grimes were the X Factor twins with BOUNDS of energy and gravity defying uairsylts. Nowadays, however, they are all grown up now and they look pretty different from their days on the hit ITV talent show. They're still making music, sure, but they're sporting a much more grown up 'do - and we kinda love it. Way to go, Jedward!

Katie Wassel13 of 14
CREDIT: Getty/Instagram

Katie Waissel

Not only has she ditched her tired looking bleach blonde looks, Katie Waissel has gone full on mummy mode, toning down her trademark indie rocker look in favour of relaxed leisurewear and a make-up free face.

Emma Chawner14 of 14
CREDIT: ITV/Liz Gregg

Emma Chawner

Emma first auditioned for X Factor in 2007 to scathing responses from Simon, before getting back up on the X Factor stage with her sister, Sam, a few years later. Now she's dropped an incredible 12 stone and exclusively told Closer magazine, "I'd love Simon to see me now – he wouldn't recognize me!"

Katie Waissel before
Katie at the start of her journey ©Instagram

WATCH Max and Harvey told off by ITV producers | The X factor: Celebrity Secrets

Last year, Katie qualified as a personal trainer and shared some advice with followers that she gives her clients.

“The first thing I tell my clients is ‘There is no expiration date on a lifestyle change’ and this is what I want to share with you. We are A L L a constant work in progress, and as long as our intentions are honest and pure, then the rest will follow.....

Katie Waissel after
Katie poses for Closer last year ©David Cummings

“I know that summer time is here again, and we have the ‘summer body’ message thrown in our faces, but take from this that there are so many summers ahead, and winters and springs and falls.

"Ignore the heavily edited promos and rediscover your own beauty strength and greatness. Workout to better your health fitness and mindset, because if you do, you can never fail. #healthy #fitness #lifestyle #mindset #transformation #weightloss #strengthgain #momswholift".

Phew – how’s that for a motivational message?

READ MORE celeb news

Hollyoaks' Ali Bastian: 'Isolation has made me incredibly protective of my baby girl'

Holly Willoughby begs fans not to poo outside during lockdown 💩

Lauren Goodger: 'The TRUTH about my surgery'

Speaking to Closer about struggling to adapt to life as a single mum after Hudson was born, Katie said, “I had to change my outlook on something so soul-destroying and realise that whether I laughed or cried, nothing would change. So, rather than wallow, I had to carry on for the sake of Hudson. I went through the motions and let myself heal.

“Eating better and getting into fitness was the best decision I made. I feel mentally and physically stronger, and it helped me cope with everything. I look back at 2019 as the rebirth of myself.”

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us