Kate Ferdinand has candidly admitted she often felt like "a side chick" before tying the knot with husband Rio Ferdinand.
Pregnant Kate recalls the time period she was dating then engaged to the retired sports star which saw people still refer to Rebecca Ellison as Rio's wife - leaving Kate feeling like she was "this side woman, just here."
The former reality TV star, 31, met BT Sports pundit Rio, 44, through mutual friends while holidaying in Dubai in late 2016 - over a year on from the death of Rio's wife Rebecca Ellison in May 2015.
After confirming their relationship in April 2017, Kate quit her role on TOWIE to focus on her romance with Rio and his three children with his late wife Rebecca Ellison; Lorenz, 16, Tate, 14, and Tia, 11.
Kate, who is expecting her second child with Rio later this year, admits on her Blended podcast: "Three years ago it was s**t after s**t after shit, so that little thing that might not be that big tips you over the edge.
"Whereas now we're quite consistent in everything else and that little thing is quite funny because I'm secure but what used to happen is I was dating you, we might have been engaged but I wasn't your wife so whenever you talk about your wife everyone would say Rebecca. So I kind of felt I was this side woman, just here..."
Rio interrupted to add: "Side chick, yeah? You felt like a side chick."
Kate then joked: "I was a bloody good side chick I was looking after the three kids and doing everything. But I felt like a bit of a side chick because everyone would say: 'Your wife, your wife' so now I feel quite confident I am your wife, we're secure and the wedding changed a lot for me.
"I think, so I can deal with things like that now. And I'm more mature, I was younger, it was a lot to take in – sometimes I think the way I reacted to things might not have been good but I can look back on that and see that but there was so much emotion.
"But, I think, you can't beat yourself up at those times we were all going through it."
Kate has previously spoken out about the complicated feelings involved with being a step-mum, and admitted she often dreads being asked: "Are they your kids?"
Writing on social media in 2021, ahead of launching Blended, the star stated: "I have 4 children, if you suggest I have 1, I will correct you.
"If you treat 1 of them different to the other 3 I will also have a big problem, I believe all 4 of the children should be treated equally."
She added: "If you ask if I am their mum I will say I am their step mum & although they are not biologically mine I still see them as my children; it’s my job to nurture & care for them and make sure they are given all the love the deserve."
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