I’ve never before watched a programme and felt such warmth, compassion and sincerity for a person I’ve never met. Katie Piper – My Beautiful Friends which airs every Tuesday at 9pm is one of the most inspirational and thought provoking programmes I’ve ever seen. The programme follows Katie on her journey as she sets out to use her personal experience to help rebuild the lives and confidence of other people fighting for normality while living with disfigurement.
The programme follows Katie as she travels the country meeting other people in similar situations, many who will go on to become ambassadors of The Katie Piper Foundation, a foundation set up and supported by Simon Cowell to provide lifelong support to those with disfigurement. All the people she meets are incredible, some have lived with disfigurement their entire life and yet their outlook and perception of life is incredibly thoughtful and positive. They appear to see the good in everyone and everything, a rare trait in today’s hectic and increasingly selfish world.
It’s a blessing that Katie has come through the other side and felt the confidence to share her incredible story. A lot of people could learn from Katie’s message, beauty isn’t just about looking perfect, it’s about having incredible confidence and being happy in your own skin, it’s about being thankful for life itself and all that exists within it. When I’m having a down day, over something so petty its embarrassing to share with others, it’s good to stop and think: there are always more important things in the world than whatever it is your worrying about. Don’t take what you have for granted as one day things could all change. It’s a sad phrase too often used, that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone, instead of conforming, live in the moment, enjoy every ounce of life, we’re here to live it, we are not rehearsing!
I have complete admiration and respect for Katie, and I urge anyone that hasn’t seen this programme to tune in tomorrow night. I guarantee you will be moved. Visit the Channel 4 Website to read Katie's interview, where she relives the perils of her attack, her experiences since and what she hopes for the future.
