Rebecc Ferguson on how having a baby at 18 was the making of her - and the dark side of showbiz
She found fame on the biggest talent show on TV, going from X Factor finalist in 2010 to international singer and releasing multiple chart-topping albums.
And Rebecca Ferguson believes her immense success and determination stems from becoming a mum to her first child Lillie – now 14 – with her ex boyfriend Karl Dures at just 18 years old.
Rebecca - who also has son Karl, 11, with Karl, and Arabella, four, from another romance – says, “Having kids at that age was the best thing that ever happened to me. I’m not promoting it, but for me it was a hugely positive thing. It pushed me forward and made me want to chase my dreams. It gave me so much strength. When you have kids, you can’t just collapse in a heap when life gets you down, you've got to keep going."
CHECK OUT celebrities expecting babies in 2019
Pregnant Celebs 2019 Closer - SLIDER & STACKED USE THIS ONE
1 of 16Marnie Simpson and Casey Johnson
Marnie Simpson announced she was pregnant with her first child with boyfriend Casey Johnson in April, after fearing she was infertile.
2 of 16Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez
Strictly Come Dancing love birds Gorka Marquez and Gemma Atkinson announced their pregnancy with an adorable instagram snap of their two pups Norman and Ollie with signs around their necks saying "Guess what... Mum's pregnant! We're going to be big brothers!"Aww!
3 of 16Jess Hayes and Dan Lawry
Love Island winner Jess Hayes announced she's pregnant with her first child with Dan Lawry, and the happy couple are expecting in July.
4 of 16Myleene Klass and Simon Motson
Former Hear'Say singer and TV presenter Myleene Klass has announced that she is pregnant with her third child.Myleene, 40, revealed the happy news on Instagram on Valentines Day with an adorable photo of her baby bump with the simple caption '❤ufe0f'.This will be Myleene's third child but her first with her partner Simon Motson. Myleene already has daughters, Ava, 11 and Hero, 7.
5 of 16Hayley Tamaddon
Actress Hayley Tamaddon, who's starred in Emmerdale and Corrie, announced she's expecting her first child - age 42!"I'm so pleased to tell you all... I'm expecting my first child with my wonderful boyfriend Adrian!!" she said. "I've always wanted to be a mum and didn't think I could have children. And now, at the ripe old age of 42 - I'M PREGNANT! And We couldn't be happier. "
6 of 16Chloe Lewis
Chloe Lewis announced her pregnancy with boyfriend Danny Flasher in May, with a v. cute Instagram post.
7 of 16Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev
Strictly Come Dancing lovers Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev announced they'd be having their first child in May.
8 of 16Julia Goudling and Ben Silver
Congrats are in order for Coronation Street actor Julia Goulding and her husband Ben Silver who are expecting their first child – just three months after getting married.
9 of 16Hannah Elizabeth
Original Love Islander Hannah Elizabeth has been celebrating her pregnancy with some very racy lingerie snaps. She made her announcement in May.
10 of 16Malia Arkian
Most famous for getting ejected from the Love Island villa just HOURS after arriving in 2016, Malia Arkian announced in June that she was expecting her first child with, and was engaged to, her footballer boyfriend Hope Akpan.
11 of 16Helen Briggs and Chet Johnson
One of the only successful couples to have come from Ex on the Beach, Helen Briggs and Chet Johnson, have announced their first pregnancy with a really gorgeous snap on Instagram. "Half me, half you," wrote Helen, alongside the post.
12 of 16Anna Willamson and Alex Di Pasquale
Anna Williamson announced her second pregnancy with husband Alex Di Pasquale with a gorgeous cover shoot with OK! magazine. "I'm not getting any younger, so when we discovered I was pregnant, we were so pleased," she said.
13 of 16Jeremy McConnell and Katie McCreath
Jeremy McConnell's girlfriend Katie McCreath confirmed she's expecting their first child together (and Jeremy's second) a week after Jeremy made his own announcement on Instagramwhich he then claimed was "a prank".
14 of 16Joe Wicks and Rosie Jones
Joe Wicks announced he was expecting his second child with wife Rosie Jones with a lovely family snap on Instagram which showed off Rosie's 19-week bump. "We are very happy and excited to grow our family," he said.
15 of 16Jeremy Kyle and Vicky Burton
Jeremy Kyle announced he was going to be a dad again in August, to his first child with girlfriend Vicky Burton, following the axing of his daytime TV show.
16 of 16Aaron announced he was expecting his first child with girlfriend Talia Oatway, with some beautiful family portraits of them together along with Talia's daughter, who Aaron's played step-dad to since they got together two years ago. The shock announcement came just days after reports the couple had split as they unfollowed each other on social media.
Aaron announced he was expecting his first child with girlfriend Talia Oatway, with some beautiful family portraits of them together along with Talia's daughter, who Aaron's played step-dad to since they got together two years ago.The shock announcement came just days after reports the couple had split as they unfollowed each other on social media.
“It was also really important to me that my kids saw me succeed, and so I made sure I did. I want them to be inspired and want to do well themselves and that's why I worked so hard.”
Rebecca, 32, signed a record deal with Simon Cowell's company Syco just days after X Factor ended and saw her humble life in Liverpool became a world of glamorous parties and celebrities.
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But last year the star opened up about the dark side of fame, insisting she had suffered racial abuse and been threatened by people in the music industry behind the scenes.
Opening up to Closer, she says, “I quickly discovered there was a darker side to the fame. People tried to make me do things and they put me on a diet. I realised I didn't want that and now make sure I only say yes to things I want to do these days. I much prefer my local pub to all the swanky restaurants anyway!”
During her time on The X Factor, Rebecca hit headlines for her romance with One Direction's Zayn Malik, who was six years her junior, and was later linked to Bros star Matt Goss and later was then left heartbroken when the father of her daughter Arabella abandoned her while she was pregnant.
But Rebecca is now happier than ever with her new man and says that she’d love to get married one day.
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Preferring to keep his identity private, Rebecca says, “He’s lovely. He makes me feel so special and he’s everything I’ve wanted really. He’s not phased by celebrities or anything, he doesn’t like all that.
“I think I've found The One. I’d love more kids in the future, but I want to get married first. I want a big white wedding, a really girly one with the dress and everything. I’d have to rally up my music friends to sing at it. He doesn't know this yet though!”
Rebecca has a residency at Boisdale Canary Wharf until 21 January.
Read even more in this week's Closer - out now.