‘I’m still trying to rebuild today’: Jo O’Meara admits to having a ‘complete breakdown’ following her Big Brother appearance – which saw her lose ‘everything’
Jo O’Meara has revealed how she is still ‘trying to rebuild’ following her controversial appearance on Celebrity Big Brother 14 years ago.
The 42-year-old singer rocketed to fame as part of pop group S Club 7 – but her Big Brother stint saw her lose ‘everything’, including the solo career she had also embarked upon following the band’s split in 2003.
Jo’s reputation was tarnished on the reality series after being accused of racist and bullying behaviour towards Indian actress Shilpa Shetty, along with Jade Goody, Jackiey Budden and Danielle Lloyd.
‘I’m still trying to rebuild today’: Jo O’Meara admitted to having a ‘complete breakdown’ following her Big Brother appearance – which saw her lose ‘everything’ (pictured above on the show in 2007)
Speaking to The Sun about how the experience changed her, Jo said: ‘I had a complete breakdown and it wasn’t a nice time for everybody involved.
‘If I could go back in time and change what happened then I would, but I can’t. All I can do is hold my hands up and apologise.’
The Romford-born star lost her home as well as her career, but is now in a better place and feels ‘blessed’ that she can return to her desired solo music career.
Controversial appearance: Jo’s reputation was tarnished on the reality series after being accused of racist and bullying behaviour towards Indian actress Shilpa Shetty, along with Jade Goody, Jackiey Budden and Danielle Lloyd (pictured above on the show)
Jo also spoke frankly about how her son Lenny, 13, helped ‘dig her out’ of the hole she was in, as he was born not long since the Big Brother aftermath.
She remains amicable with Lenny’s father, Billy Slate, but revealed that getting married in the future is something no longer on her list.
Remarking she’s ‘in a relationship with music’, Jo said: ‘I enjoy being single. I’m just so career-driven, more now than ever. I know this could be my last shot. I want to give this everything I’ve got, so I wouldn’t have time for that anyway.’
Looking forward: The Romford-born star lost her home as well as her career, but is now in a better place and feels ‘blessed’ that she can return to her desired solo music career (pictured above in 2021)
Where it all began: The 42-year-old singer rocketed to fame as part of pop group S Club 7 (the group pictured in 2000)
Jo joined S Club 7 in 1999 and said she used to feel like the ‘ugly duckling’ of the group.
Even admitting that she controlled her eating to a ‘point she shouldn’t have’, Jo added: ‘I was never there to be the pretty one – I was just the one that sang the songs and it made me feel very insecure.
‘When I had my back injury [while filming S Club 7 film Seeing Double In 2002], I turned to comfort eating and then I’d get in that vicious cycle.’
Honest: Jo said she felt like ‘the ugly duckling’ in S Club 7 and controlled her eating ‘to a point she shouldn’t have’ (pictured in 2021)
Rachel Stevens, 43, and Hannah Spearritt, 40, are the band members Jo keeps in touch with the most, and despite the group reuniting in 2015 for an arena tour, there are no future plans for them to do anything similar.
S Club’s split may have been down to ‘creative differences’, but the star said she has received some supportive messages from her former bandmates regarding her latest project.
Jo’s new album With Love is out now.
Onwards and upwards: S Club’s split may have been down to ‘creative differences’, but Jo said she has received some supportive messages from her former bandmates regarding her latest album With Love
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