At 41, reality star Jessica Alves is embracing a sense of inner peace and has decided to step back from the reality TV world. "I find them very draining," she admits. The Brazilian-British TV personality, formerly known as "The Human Ken Doll" before her transition, credits television for many things, not least her cherished friendship with Katie Price, whom she met on Loose Women seven years ago. At the recent UK Glamour Awards, Jessica and Katie set tongues wagging with what appeared to be more than a friendly peck, but Jessica insists it was just a "friendly kiss".
In an exclusive chat with OK!, Jessica delves into how reality TV has reshaped her life, the shared cosmetic surgery experiences and relationship advice with Katie, and what's next for the duo.
Hi, Jessica! We saw you with Katie Price at the UK Glamour Awards. Do the pair of you go way back?
Katie and I met seven years ago on Loose Women, when she was one of the panellists. I was a guest on the show for an interview and that day I was sitting next to her. We were talking about the thread lift – the treatment – and that she had got that done. She was very happy with the results. I said, “Well, I also had that done a while ago and I’m very happy with the results too.” We exchanged numbers and we have been friends ever since.
Does Katie secretly want to look like you?
I don’t think that she wants to look like me at all, no. I’m the one who looks up to her as a woman, not only for her appearance, but also for her strength. She’s a fighter and a warrior. I told her the other day, “Listen, you look beautiful, you look great. Everything that you have been through in your life – you are such a great mum, you’re so good to Harvey. You have your downs and lows and here you are – you’re a role model to most women really in this country.” What I like about her is that she’s so genuine.
At the UK Glamour Awards you shared a kiss with Katie…
Yes, the kiss was something very organic. We were talking looking into each other’s eyes and she said to me, “Jessica, you are so beautiful. I love you so much.” And I said, “I love you too – you are stunning.” It was after us having a one-to-one conversation about love and relationships. We were talking about the previous relationship that I had and having my heart broken and she just came and gave me a kiss and then I kissed her back and… then obviously there were photographers there. It was a friendly kiss. I’m 41 years old. I have never had an experience with a female, even in my former life.
Do you open up to each other a lot about your relationships?
We do. Even before, when she was in her two previous relationships, we’d talk about it and I would give her advice. I was recently heartbroken and she told me in the beginning of my last relationship to be careful. Looking back, I should have listened.
You began to transition in January 2020. How has it been for you?
It’s not something that I feel comfortable talking about, but it is something I can’t get away from. I’d say my life started very late, but I love being a woman. Being a woman is a gift – it’s the most amazing thing. I had a wonderful life before, but I reached a point that I wasn’t happy, so I had to do everything that I could to be the woman I wanted to be. I do celebrate femininity and being a woman and I love every single cell of my body – I’m so blessed. I thank God every day.
You are TV gold – is there any other reality show that you would like to do?
No, I have been there, done that. Reality shows are not for me any more. I find them very draining. They are heavily edited, for a start. The only exception is I would do Celebrity Big Brother again in order to get my message across and also to give the public a chance to get to know me better.
Would you be able to detail all the surgery that you’ve had over the years?
Everything in my body has been touched, even my hands and my feet. Every single inch of my body has been modified. It hasn’t been easy, it’s been very painful, very expensive, very risky. I’ve got to the point where I’m scared of needles. I’m scared of feeling pain. I have had 12 nose jobs. It went wrong. It wasn’t a choice to have such a small nose, but because I’ve had so many complications, I needed to have a total nose reconstruction.
Do you have any future surgery plans?
I don’t. I had a facelift two weeks ago. I would say maybe just static treatments such as skin tightening, lasers, hyaluronic acid and fillers – procedures like that just to maintain my appearance.
Do you and Katie share the same surgeon?
So she had her surgery and then I went back and had mine in Turkey. Also, my breast implant surgery is in Brussels. It was my breast surgeon in Brussels that I referred to her and she went there and got hers done. So we do, we exchange tips on surgery. She wants to get some more work done, which she’s going to be getting in January in Brussels. Obviously, I cannot tell what it is but she’s getting more work done with the same doctor in the first week of January.
Have you offered Katie any advice in terms of surgery?
Honestly, I don’t think that she needs anything. I tell her, “Listen, you’re so beautiful, but if you want to get it done, go and do it. But you just don’t need it at all.” She says the same to me. She says, “Now, you’re looking perfect. You’re mesmerising. You don’t need anything else done.” Which I agree with right now – I don’t. We’re just very kind to one another and, even though we don’t agree with each other’s extensive surgery, we still support each other all the way.
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