Katrina Amy Alexandra Alexis Price, widely known as Katie Price, is a prominent British media personality, model, author, and businesswoman. Born on May 22, 1978, in Brighton, East Sussex, Price became a household name in the late 1990s and early 2000s for her glamour modelling career. Over the years, her persona evolved from a page 3 model to a reality TV star, singer, and entrepreneur. Known for her larger-than-life personality and controversial life choices, Katie Price has remained in the public eye, with a career spanning over two decades.
Katie Price’s career has been marked by her multiple ventures, including television appearances, a series of books, a clothing line, and a podcast. However, her personal life has often been in the headlines as much as her career. Her marriages, relationships, and family life have been subjects of public fascination.
Her fame began with her modelling career under the pseudonym “Jordan,” and her life has been well documented in a number of reality shows. She has faced ups and downs in her professional and personal life, but her resilience and ambition have kept her in the spotlight.
Early Life and Education
Katie Price was born to Ray and Amy Infield in Brighton, East Sussex. Her early years were somewhat turbulent, with her father leaving the family when she was just four years old. At the age of eight, her mother remarried, and Katie took on the surname of her stepfather, Paul Price. She grew up with her mother and stepfather, along with her brother Daniel and sister Sophie, in a family that was supportive but far from wealthy.
Price attended Blatchington Mill School in Hove, where she excelled in sports. She was particularly skilled in swimming, competing for Sussex at a regional level. Price also developed a love for horses and spent considerable time riding, a hobby she would later incorporate into her public persona.
Katie Price started her career in modelling at the young age of 13. She was initially discovered while on a family holiday in Mallorca, where her mother encouraged her to take professional photographs. At 17, she began pursuing a modelling career full-time, initially using the name “Jordan.” Her early career was marked by her distinctive look, featuring long blonde hair and a curvaceous figure, which made her an ideal candidate for glamour modelling. She appeared on Page 3 of The Sun newspaper, where she quickly garnered attention.
Professional Career and Rise to Fame
Breakthrough in Modelling: The Sun and “Jordan”
Katie Price’s career breakthrough came in 1996 when she appeared on Page 3 of The Sun, a tabloid newspaper famous for featuring glamour models. Under the pseudonym “Jordan,” Price quickly became a household name, renowned for her striking figure, which was notably enhanced through multiple breast surgeries. This new image became an integral part of her public persona and helped solidify her place in the glamour modelling world.
Expanding Her Modelling Career
By the late 1990s, Price had gained a significant fan base, with her appearances in various popular publications like FHM, Maxim, and Playboy. These features helped cement her status as one of the UK’s most well-known glamour models. In 2002, Price made history by becoming the first British model to appear on the cover of Playboy‘s American edition, further elevating her fame on the global stage.
Television Appearances and Public Recognition
Price’s career expanded beyond print media and into television, where she became a familiar face. One of her early television appearances was in 2004 on Top Gear, where she participated in the segment “Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.” Her presence in the entertainment world began to grow, attracting further attention from a wider audience.
Reality TV Fame: I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
In 2004, Price participated in the third series of the popular reality show I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! It was here that she met singer Peter Andre, marking the beginning of a highly publicized relationship. Their chemistry on the show captured the public’s attention, and their relationship quickly became the subject of tabloid headlines. They married in 2005, and their relationship was prominently featured in several reality TV shows, including Katie & Peter, which aired from 2004 to 2009.
Venturing into Music: A Whole New World
Alongside her rising media profile, Katie Price explored a career in music. In 2006, she released her debut album, A Whole New World, in collaboration with her then-husband Peter Andre. While the album did not achieve widespread commercial success, it allowed Price to showcase her versatility as an entertainer and to broaden her career beyond modelling and television.
Authorship and Literary Success
In addition to her music and television career, Price began a successful literary journey. Her first book, an autobiography titled Being Jordan, was released in 2004 and became a bestseller. She followed this success with additional books, including A Whole New World, which chronicled her personal and professional life. Price also delved into fiction with a series of novels, such as Crystal, Sapphire, and Paradise. These works were popular with her fan base and contributed to her diverse career.
Expanding Her Brand: Fashion and Business Ventures
Price’s career continued to evolve as she expanded into business. She launched her own fashion line, KP, and created an equestrian collection, KP Equestrian, which showcased her personal style. Additionally, she explored various other entrepreneurial ventures, from fragrances to health products, continuously growing her brand and business portfolio.
Reality TV: Documenting Her Life
Katie Price’s constant presence in the media was sustained through several reality television shows that gave audiences an inside look into her life. Shows such as Jordan: The Truth About Me, Katie & Peter, and later Katie Price: My Crazy Life helped keep her in the public eye. These programs highlighted both her personal and professional struggles, ensuring that her fame stayed prominent across the UK and beyond.
Personal Life and Marriages
Katie Price’s personal life has often overshadowed her professional achievements, as her relationships and family life have been widely covered in the media.
Price’s first marriage was to singer Peter Andre. The couple met in 2004 on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and became one of the UK’s most famous couples. They married in 2005, and in 2006, they welcomed their first child together, a son named Junior. Their daughter, Princess Tiaamii, was born in 2007. The couple separated in 2009, after four years of marriage.
Following her divorce from Andre, Price married MMA fighter Alex Reid in 2010. Their marriage was short-lived, ending in 2012. In 2013, Price married her third husband, Kieran Hayler, a former stripper. They had two children together, a son named Jett and a daughter named Bunny. Their marriage was tumultuous, with allegations of infidelity on Hayler’s part, which led to Price filing for divorce in 2018.
Despite the breakdowns in her relationships, Price has remained a dedicated mother to her children. She has had a challenging journey with her eldest son, Harvey, who was born in 2002 to Price and footballer Dwight Yorke. Harvey has multiple disabilities, including autism and Prader-Willi syndrome. Price has been a vocal advocate for better support for children with special needs and has campaigned against online abuse, particularly aimed at her son.
Struggles and Scandals
Katie Price’s life has been marked by numerous personal and professional struggles. She has faced financial difficulties, particularly in recent years. In 2019, Price declared bankruptcy, with her debts totaling over £3.5 million. Her financial troubles have been linked to her extravagant lifestyle, which included expensive surgeries, property investments, and business ventures that failed to generate enough income. In 2024, Price was declared bankrupt for the second time.
In addition to her financial struggles, Price has faced legal issues, including several driving offenses. She has been banned from driving multiple times for offenses such as driving while disqualified, driving under the influence, and failing to provide the necessary details following a crash.
Price has also been involved in various other incidents, including a robbery and carjacking in Swaziland, where she was reportedly raped. This event, along with the breakdown of her marriages and other controversies, has painted her as a figure of both sympathy and disdain in the media.
Net Worth and Current Status
As of recent reports, Katie Price’s net worth is estimated to be around £45 million, though this figure fluctuates due to her ongoing financial struggles. Her wealth primarily comes from her television and media appearances, as well as her various business ventures, including product endorsements and her book sales. However, her debts and financial issues have overshadowed much of her wealth.
Katie Price is still a popular figure in British media, and she continues to be active on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, where she shares updates on her personal life, including her children and business ventures. In 2023, she began hosting a podcast, The Katie Price Show, which adds another layer to her varied career.
Conclusion
Katie Price’s journey from a young model to a television personality, entrepreneur, and author has been anything but conventional. Her career has been marked by both significant successes and public scandals. Despite the controversies and challenges she has faced, Price remains a prominent figure in British entertainment, continuing to engage with her audience through various media channels. Her personal life, particularly her relationships and family struggles, have kept her in the headlines, but her resilience in the face of adversity has ensured that she remains relevant in the public eye.
FAQs
1. Who is Katie Price?
Katie Price, also known as “Jordan,” is a British media personality, model, entrepreneur, and author, famous for her glamour modelling career.
2. When did Katie Price start her modelling career?
Katie Price began her modelling career at the age of 13 and gained significant recognition in 1996 when she appeared on Page 3 of The Sun.
3. How did Katie Price become famous?
She became famous through her modelling work, particularly her appearances in The Sun and Playboy, as well as her participation in reality TV shows like I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!.
4. Has Katie Price released any music?
Yes, in 2006, Katie Price released her debut album A Whole New World, in collaboration with her then-husband Peter Andre.
5. How many children does Katie Price have?
Katie Price has five children: Harvey, Junior, Princess, Jett, and Bunny, from various relationships.