Kelly Brook, 46, has spoken out about the trolling and ostracization she has experienced for her decision not to have children.
During a segment on the television show Loose Women, where the panel discussed the stigma surrounding child-free women, Brook revealed that she used to feel there was "something wrong with me" when discussing her choice.
"Other women would make me feel like there was something wrong with me for not wanting to have children," Brook stated. "You just know in your heart of hearts."
She emphasized that not wanting children does not equate to being selfish, un-maternal, or a lack of love for children. "It just means that your lifestyle is set up in a way where you are happy and fulfilled," she explained.
Brook criticized what she termed "mummy propaganda," citing instances where individuals are made to feel inadequate for not having children. "There's so much of that around, like 'how do you know what real love is if you don't have children? How can you be a real woman if you haven't given birth?" she said, adding that such sentiments aim to make women feel "less than a woman."
She recounted feeling frightened to discuss her stance publicly, fearing being trolled and made to feel like an "outcast." However, she noted that more women are now recognizing that life offers fulfillment beyond having children, including marriage, career, and personal achievements.
Brook also shared that upon meeting her current husband, Jeremy Parisi, she was financially independent with her own home and a successful career, and was not seeking a partner for marriage, children, or financial support. "When I met my husband, I met him at a time where it was just love. I wasn't expecting anything else," she said.
Previously, Brook has discussed how past traumas influenced her decision. She experienced the tragic loss of her baby at six months pregnant in 2011 with then-fiancé Thom Evans. She described this as the "most devastating thing" and expressed that she does not think she can "fully recover from that."
Reflecting on her younger years, Brook mentioned having miscarriages and enduring challenging past relationships that took a toll physically and emotionally. These experiences affected her life, career, and self-perception, leading her to feel like a "failure" and to view her partners negatively based on their reactions. This history contributed to her never having a "positive experience" with pregnancies or trying to conceive.