Rhian Sugden celebrated her 40th birthday on Friday by posting a nude photograph on Instagram, an act she described as "This is 40." Sugden, a glamour model, strategically used her arm to maintain modesty in the image, accessorized only with jewelry and a pearl headband. Her husband, Oliver Mellor, also shared celebratory posts from a birthday weekend getaway at Parr Green Hall in Cheshire, praising her as "a beautiful person and a perfect Mummy."
The birthday comes after Sugden recently spoke out about the lingering impact of a past sexting scandal involving television presenter Vernon Kay. The scandal first came to light in 2010, leading to Kay issuing a public apology to his then-wife, Tess Daly. Further allegations surfaced in 2016. Sugden stated in a recent interview that she has been "painted as a villain" and has struggled with the public backlash, which she believes has haunted her career. She recounted incidents of being "spat at" and having her "windscreen smashed" as a result of the public attention.
Sugden expressed hope that her forties will usher in a new chapter where the Vernon Kay stories can be put to rest. She noted the difficulty of being perceived as "the other woman" and the mental toll it has taken. She stated that if people knew the full story, they would understand she is not the person she has been portrayed as, and that the situation has been unfair to Kay's ex-wife and their children.
In a 2020 interview, Sugden claimed the sexting scandal had ruined her career, expressing lingering resentment that Kay, after apologizing, was able to continue his presenting work. She recalled feeling sickened by his return to television, specifically mentioning his role on "Family Fortunes." Kay has consistently maintained that the messages exchanged were "flirty banter" and not inappropriate. Sugden previously discussed the scandal in a Channel 4 documentary, "Page Three: The Naked Truth," where she reiterated that the situation significantly impacted her career trajectory. Tess and Vernon Kay announced their separation in May after 23 years of marriage, stating the decision was amicable and that they would continue to co-parent their two daughters.