Rose to fame in the band Hear’Say after appearing on the reality series Popstars in 2001.
And Kym Marsh has now opened up about life before the spotlight by detailing the financial struggles she endured while raising her grown children.
The 46-year-old soap star has revealed it was “difficult to put together money for the week” when her son David, now 27, and daughter Emilie, now 25, were growing up.
Strain: Kym Marsh has recalled her financial struggle while raising eldest children David, 27, and Emilie, 25, as a single parent before her rise to fame
In a new interview with Premium MagazineKym, who is a mother of four children, recalled the difficulties of raising her older children while trying to make it.
She shares David and Emilie with her former builder fiancé Dave Cunliffe, from whom she separated in 1999, just a year after the birth of their daughter.
But the children were never in trouble, with the Strictly Come Dancing star sharing: ‘They were well clothed and fed, although they didn’t have any luxuries. Sometimes it was difficult to raise money for the week.
‘When Emilie was a baby, my sister, Tracey, and I would sometimes spend half a bag of nappies.
Siblings: Kym gave birth to her eldest children before rising to fame in 2001, with Emilie now 25 and David now 27 (pictured together)
Old times: In a new interview with Prima magazine, Kym, who is a mother of four, recalled the difficulties of raising her older children while trying to make it big
Children: She shares David and Emilie with her ex-builder fiancé Dave Cunliffe, while her youngest daughter Polly is from her marriage to Jamie Lomas.
She recalled: ‘They were well clothed and fed, although they did not have any luxuries. Sometimes it was difficult to raise money for the week’
‘I would also take the kids to mom’s if we didn’t have enough money to recharge the electric meter. Times were tough, but we managed and I made it work,” she recalled.
Kym has been open about her struggle before fame after growing up on council estate in Wigan and becoming pregnant as a teenager.
He previously admitted to living on £80 a week in rented accommodation with his two children.
Hard: ‘I would also take the kids to mom’s house if we didn’t have enough money to recharge the electric meter.’ Times were hard, but we managed and I made it work.’
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The beauty is also a mother to 11-year-old daughter Polly, whom she shares with ex-husband Jamie Lomas. While the former couple also welcomed their son Archie in 2009, who was born prematurely and died shortly after birth.
Kym is now married to Army Major Scott Ratcliff after they tied the knot last year, while explaining to Prima how their different relationship dynamics work well for the couple.
“As I get older, it becomes more clear to me what I need from a partner and what I can give in return…Scott and I can’t afford to live together full time, as he spends Monday through Friday in the barracks”. ‘ she shared.
He continued: “Every weekend he drives miles just to see me for two days… Sometimes I’ll say, ‘Honey, you don’t need to drive all that way, why don’t you stay here this weekend?'” He just says : “Absolutely not, because there will be many times when I won’t be able to reach you. He really takes care of me in every possible way.’
Happy: Kym is now married to Army Major Scott Ratcliff after they tied the knot last year, while explaining to Prima how their different relationship dynamics work out well for the couple