‘This is how I really look!'
The mum of three, 30 – who reunited with the original Atomic Kittens, Kerry Katona and Liz McClarnon, for ITV’s Big Reunion show – faced a tirade of cruel online abuse after her appearance on the show. She was accused of looking 'melted' and had to endure accusations of having plastic surgery, including Botox and fillers – claims she categorically refutes. Posing naked and with minimal make-up, she explains: 'I just want to put this to bed and say:
‘This is how I really look! I got so many Tweets claiming I’d had all this work done and I looked hideous. They were saying things like: ‘What has she done to herself? She looks like Pete Burns.’ I’m a strong person, but I can’t lie and say it doesn’t hurt being attacked like that.
I’m a strong person, but I can’t lie and say it doesn’t hurt being attacked like that.
I’m a naturally expressive person – I get passionate and animated when I talk. If I’d had all that work done, I wouldn’t be able to move my face!'
True to her word, Natasha’s face doesn’t appear frozen and she blames her choice of bright lipstick on the show for her fuller-looking lips. Pointing out a small crease in her forehead, the redhead singer admits she tried Botox once, but looks after her flawless fair skin with a strict skincare regime. She uses Dermalogica skin-smoothing cream daily.
She says: 'I had a little bit of Botox five or six years ago, that’s all. I didn’t like it and haven’t had it since. I started in the band when I was 16, I’m a woman now! I do have a few laughter lines and crow’s feet. My face has just changed growing up and weight loss has had an effect, too. Last year, I worked out before going on holiday, then was photographed in a bikini – people said I’d had a tummy tuck. Apparently, my belly button looked weird. Well, I’ve had kids and it’s popped in and out three times, so of course it does!'
Natasha, who married businessman Riad Erraji in 2007, has always been slim, but worked hard to regain her size 6-8 figure after the birth of youngest son Alfie in 2010. She confesses that when she didn’t snap back into shape like she did with her first two – Josh, 10, and Harry, eight, from previous relationships – she considered lipo on her tummy.
She adds that she’s proud she took a year to lose her baby weight sensibly, explaining: 'At my heaviest, I was probably a size 12 and 10st 7lbs, which, at 5ft 5, isn’t huge, but I wanted to feel like me again. I’m naturally small and, after my first two pregnancies, I snapped back into shape. However, I was also young, working and active. Stage routines were like 10-hour gym sessions!
'But with my third child, I had no energy. I did Slimming World and lost half a stone, but regained it because I slipped into bad eating habits. I hated my hips and tummy and found myself saying to my husband: ‘What about lipo?’ He said he’d support my choice, but suggested I try losing it naturally first. It was a hard year, but I started with a one-week boot camp and, after that, started going to the gym two or three times a week and ate healthily.'
Natasha, who suffered post-natal depression after Josh’s birth and had months of counselling after leaving the band in 2003, opened her heart on the The Big Reunion about her low points with Atomic Kitten and her depression. She admits to being shocked when viewers only focused on her appearance, saying: 'People don’t realise how their comments hurt. On the show, I was talking about personal things like depression, so it’s crazy to think the only thing some people took from that was: '"Look at her face!"'
In fact, the star is embracing getting older – and says a fourth baby is a possibility, revealing: 'I’m only 30 – I feel like I might get broody in a few years, but not in the near future. When I was wrapping presents at Christmas, I couldn’t imagine a fourth!'
And Natasha admits she feels more confident now than when she was in Atomic Kitten, saying: 'I feel better than I did 10 years ago. I was young and I let the job take over, putting my health at risk. I went back to work too quickly after having an emergency C-section with Josh. And I was so self-conscious – I wore about three pairs of Spanx!
'I felt nervous at first doing this shoot, but when I saw the pictures I loved them. I’m much more confident than I used to be and feel proud – I have a wonderful husband and kids. The day before I turned 30, I cried happy tears – the best and worst things happened in my 20s and turning 30 was a fresh start. I couldn’t be happier going back into the band. I used to dread going on stage, but I’ve put my old demons to bed. I’m so excited for my sons to see me perform, I want them to be proud.'