Dancing on Ice’s Rebekah Vardy writes devastating open letter to her younger self

TRIGGER WARNING: sexual abuse, coercive control, suicide

rebekah vardy

by Lucy Smith |
Updated on

Rebekah Vardy has written a "letter to [her] younger self" ahead of her 39th birthday and she's opened up about traumas from her childhood.

Posting the letter on her blog, the 39 year old wrote a list of "important things" she would tell her younger self if she could talk to her now, including several mentions of "that man."

Rebekah Vardy
Rebekah shared a photo of herself at 15 "just a few weeks before [she] was thrown out of home." ©Rebekah Vardy

Rebekah was sexually abused by a family friend for three years.

Now, in this open letter, the mum of five tells her younger self, "It wasn’t your fault that man hurt you so many times.

"You aren’t a problem child, you need saving. Tell your dad what is happening to you right now."

Continuing to list the advice she wished she could have given, Rebekah seemed to touch on a suicide attempt, writing, "Don’t take those pills, don’t drink that vodka," but, a few lines later, encouraged her younger self, telling her, "Your life is worth living and things will get better."

She mentioned a relationship where she was "coerced" and wrote, "Don’t let that man terrify you. He won't stop cheating if you have a boob job."

But, Rebekah, who's now married to Premier League footballer Jamie Vardy, went on to add, "You won’t believe me now, but I swear to you that a man who you aren’t scared of and who doesn’t treat you badly will love you one day."

She continued, "He will become your husband and he will treat you in a way that you aren’t used to being treated – with respect and kindness. You will feel safe, happy loved and secure."

The mum of five urged her younger self to know that she can overcome everything, from being abused as a child to "then thrown out on the street at 15 like unwanted property."

"You can stop unravelling. Please stop punishing yourself and allow yourself to be happy," she added.

The Dancing on Ice star wrote added she is now ready to stop hiding away and putting up walls and went on to apologise for not letting her younger self heal.

Tying up the letter on a positive note, Rebekah wrote, "I promise you Bex that you will live happily ever after," before adding jokily that her younger self should have gone ice skating more often because she "might have to skate in front of Torvill & Dean one day!!"

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On her 39th birthday, Rebekah shared a snap of her on top of a lion statue in full glam, telling her followers, "Another year older but definitely not getting any wiser 😜I got stuck on this lion 🤦🏻‍♀️.

"Thank you for all the lovely birthday wishes today ❤️."

On husband Jamie's Instagram, the Leicester City player wrote, "Happy birthday to the better half of us @beckyvardy the kids and I love you so much ❤️❤️❤️."

If you are struggling with any of the issues mentioned and would like support, please head to one of the following websites: Samaritans, NSPCC, Women's Aid.

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