Peter Andre, 49, still straightens hair due to childhood trauma from racist bullies

Peter Andre has revealed he still straightens his hair because his natural curls remind him of the racist bullying he suffered as child.

The 49-year-old singer and reality star is of Greek Cypriot heritage and has previously spoken out about the racist abuse he suffered growing up in Australia, which he confessed still haunts him today.

Andre - whose family moved from North London to Australia when he was six - told Life Changing Stories – The Pride of Britain Podcast: "In the early years in Australia, I suffered a lot of racism. It was a rough time.

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"Not only were we the only Greeks on the Gold Coast, but I had an English accent, curly hair, a big nose – and we really stood out.

"Fast forward to my late 40s, I still straighten my hair because the curly hair reminds me of me being that little kid and those kids calling me what they did at school."

The Mysterious Girl singer - who developed his heavily-gelled hairstyle in the early days of his pop career -added that he can't bring himself to appear in public without straightening his natural girls.

Andre said: "I'm probably over it, but I wouldn’t just turn up to an event with full curly hair. I just can’t bring myself to do it, even now, and I’ve had therapy. I still see what those kids called me when I look in the mirror."

The Natural singer has previously confessed he had cosmetic surgery on his nose as a result of the bullying he was subjected to as a child.

He said previously: "As a kid in Australia, I was bullied about the bump on my nose. A lot of the racism targeted at me also involved my nose.

"I was so self-conscious that when things started going well with my music, I'd ask that no pictures of me were taken side on.

Andre rose to fame as a pop star in the early 90s, with hits including Mysterious Girl, which reached No. 2 in the UK charts.

The reality TV star is father to Princess, 15, and Junior, 76, with ex-wife Katie Price, and Theo, five, and Amelia, eight, with wife Dr Emily MacDonagh.

Read more: Peter Andre 'scarred' for life by racism he experienced as a child

Earlier this year he confirmed plans to revive his fly-on-the-wall documentary TV series Peter Andre: My Life - which ended in 2013 - featuring some of his children.

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