Kelly Brook says it's 'very hard' as she opens up about having children with Jeremy Parisi

Kelly Brook, Jeremy Parisi and their dog Teddy
-Credit: (Image: DAILY MIRROR)


Kelly Brook has been a household name since she began modelling at 18, and is known for bringing a touch of glamour to everything she does. However, the Heart FM presenter has shown a more down-to-earth side of herself on the latest series of Celebrity Race Across The World.

From roughing it on buses to ditching the make-up, it's been refreshing to see Kelly, 44, in a more natural light as she travelled across South America with her Italian model husband Jeremy Parisi for the BBC show. This is the first time Kelly, who has previously dated Jason Statham, Billy Zane, and Danny Cipriani, has given such an intimate glimpse into her relationship with Jeremy, in a new interview with OK!.

The pair are extremely happy in their relationship - but are there plans to have chlidren in future? Kelly is unsure at the moment. "We have our little fur baby dog, Teddy, but I'm not sure about having children yet. At the moment we are focused on work and where we want to live in the world. It's very hard to think about children when you don't know where you might be living. We need to be more settled before we think about children."

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The pair seem like a devoted couple - and Kelly says there were a couple of things that first caught her eye when it came to the Italian model. "He had such kind eyes and a beautiful smile, I was immediately attracted to him. We were friends before we even met because we found each other online. We never rushed into a relationship; it was very gradual. We didn't talk about getting married or having children we just wanted to get to know each other. He also made me laugh, which is important."

Since the age of 18, Kelly has worked hard to create a career for herself - and that drive, she says, comes from growing up as she did in a working-class family, where she wasn't 'aware' of any struggles. "My parents both worked and there was always food on the table, we never went without. I think my drive comes from just wanting to explore the world and be independent financially", she says.

"It comes from my mum teaching me not to rush into having kids because she was 17 when she had me, so she made me feel that life was there for the taking. The ambition to be famous definitely comes from my mum's influence."

And over the past 30 years, Kelly has certainly made her mark, appearing in films and TV both here and in the States. Recalling her early modelling days and the 'really fun' 90s, she says: "I did The Big Breakfast for Channel 4 I was mixing with all the Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels boys, which is how I met Jason [Statham]. It was an amazing time to be a teenager."

But despite her success, Kelly has also struggled with body confidence, over the years. Thankfully, she confesses, she feels a lot more comfortable in her own skin than she used to - and isn't worried about how others view her body.

"I am content with myself at this moment. When I look in the mirror, I smile. Sometimes, what you're feeling inside doesn't always show on the outside. It's tough having been a bikini model throughout my twenties and then hitting 30 and they still want me to do calendars. I'm just not there for the male gaze any more. I'm married and I'm content."

Of course, all the sparkle of Strictly is back on our screens, and Kelly took part in the 2007 series, alongside former pro, Brendan Cole. Does she think she would participate again?

"No, never. I don't want to go backwards, only forwards. That's why I chose to do Celebrity Race Across The World. I thought it would be a good fit for both me and Jeremy. I'm not desperate to be on TV, I just thought this would work for both of us. But I cherished my time on Strictly."