Megan McKenna reveals shocking call from Simon Cowell and what he told her
Megan McKenna says motherhood has given her a new sense of freedom and confidence as she enjoys life with husband Oliver Burke and their nine-month-old son Landon.
The 32-year-old, who rose to fame through reality TV shows like The Only Way Is Essex and Ex on the Beach, is now better known for her powerful vocals and popular recipe videos, Mirror reports.
Having tied the knot with footballer Oliver, 28, in June, the Essex-born star now divides her time between the UK and Berlin, where her husband plays for German Bundesliga club Union Berlin.
'Motherhood has definitely made me more free,' Megan said during an exclusive interview with OK! at The Shard in London. 'I don't worry about the little things any more. As a mum, you have the most amazing gift already, so everything else is fine.'
The visit to London marked her first performance since becoming a mother, as she joined Grammy-winning songwriter Toby Gad, best known for Fergie's Big Girls Don't Cry, for a live show that also featured Paloma Faith. Megan performed alongside Toby, singing the iconic ballad, while her proud parents watched from the front row.
'I took a break from music for obvious reasons and I moved to Berlin, so I've had a lot on my plate,' she said. 'But to be honest, I took a break because I don't like doing things half-heartedly. I'm very passionate about what I do, so I want to do it properly.'
Megan has been building a music career since winning The X Factor: Celebrity in 2019. Her original song This went straight to number one on iTunes and entered the UK Official Charts.
The heartfelt ballad is now widely used in social media videos for engagement and pregnancy announcements, including Megan's own announcement in April last year, which followed fertility struggles.
'I hear my song all the time and get tagged in so many videos using it. It's really lovely,' she said. 'I would say definitely The X Factor helped with people realising that I've grown up a lot.
"People realised that I can actually write music. I'm not just a singer who sings karaoke. I actually write from the heart and I think that's why I won The X Factor because all my songs are inspired by my own stories.'
Her music journey has not been without challenges. Megan revealed that after her win, Simon Cowell's label, which was supposed to support her next steps, closed down.
'The label shut down after I won, so it was pretty hard. It was tough because I'd worked so, so hard,' she said. 'But Simon and I had a nice relationship.
"He actually rang me, which was crazy, because it's not every day Simon Cowell rings you, to say that the label was closing down. He was really nice about it and said, 'I'm sorry, but you need to find a new home.' But it's not an easy thing to do.'
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Still, Megan is optimistic about returning to the music scene, now that her son is a little older. 'Thankfully, times are changing and you don't need a record label to release music, so hopefully it will be easier.'
Beyond music, Megan has also carved out a niche as a cook, with millions of fans watching her prepare recipes online. Her cookbook, which became a Sunday Times bestseller, has cemented her status as a culinary talent.
'I love cooking. It's so natural to me. I just prop my phone up and film while I'm doing it,' she said. 'Most of the time, I look horrendous!
"I always think afterwards, 'Gosh, maybe I should try and put on some lipstick,' but then it gets to the end of the day and I'm like, 'Nah, that's impossible!'' She laughed, adding: 'I love cooking, I love singing, I love Landon and I love Ollie. That's all I need, really.'
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