Katie Piper has a lot going on in her life right now – planning her wedding, running her charity and organising a diversity catwalk called Confidence The Secret – but it's clear that her number one priority is her daughter Belle. "It's a privilege to be a parent," the model exclusively told HELLO! Online. "So I don't take that for granted." When asked what the best thing about being a mum is, Katie responded: "It's that unconditional love. When you come home someone recognises you and looks up at you."
"It's really nice to get home and have a cuddle with Belle"
Belle, whose father is Katie's fiancé James Sutton, is an affectionate little girl according to her proud mum. "She now cuddles up to me," said Katie. "So it's really nice to get home and have a cuddle with her and just watch her grow." The 31-year-old sadly had to miss Belle's first birthday on 14 March as she was ill after undergoing routine throat surgery, but she plans to have a belated celebration for her daughter. Katie's family and friends have "left all the decorations up and her presents wrapped" so that they can have "a little mock tea party one day next week" to honour the youngster's special day.
Katie launched Confidence The Secret at the Ideal Home Show on Friday
Hampshire-born Katie bounced back from her operation to attend the Ideal Home Show on Friday, where she was launching the UK's first catwalk of diversity. "Our big running message is acceptance," she said of the fashion show. "All of my models have a disability or a physical difference but they all have one thing in common which is that they haven't let that dominate their lives. "It's inspiring, it makes you think twice and ultimately it shows that what happens to you doesn't have to define your life. We aren't in control of every event that happens to us but we are in control of what we do with it afterwards." Juggling her multiple responsibilities has meant that Katie hasn't had much time to arrange her wedding, admitting that planning her big day has been "totally put on the back burner".
Katie's daughter turned one on 14 March
Instead, the author has been using her precious days off to spend quality time with her builder fiancé and their daughter. "I'm quite big in the kitchen because I'm really into cooking and juicing," she said. "We do cook together as a hobby, my partner and I, it's how we spend the evenings sometimes making cakes and baking. "We also make everything from fresh for Belle so we're always in the kitchen with her," she added. "She can't stop eating!"