MY LIFE LOOKS PERFECT... BUT IN REALITY I'M SKINT
WOMAN'S OWN|February 05, 2024
Karen Howden, 38, shares a picture-perfect life on Instagram, but the truth behind her photos is very different
KATE SKELTON
MY LIFE LOOKS PERFECT... BUT IN REALITY I'M SKINT

Dressed in designer clothes, my four boys and I traveled in first class on the train to London, enjoyed exclusive access to the dinosaurs and exhibitions at the Natural History Museum, then jumped in a taxi to a top hotel where we were staying for the night.

When I saw the luxury suite, I did a double take. It had a living room, several bedrooms, a welcome basket, a roll-top bath and a beautiful view from the balcony. We were receiving VIP treatment – like celebrities. But it wasn’t my birthday or any of my sons’. It was a typical day at work.

As an Instagram influencer with 35,000 followers, I’m able to go on the most incredible days out with my sons Jonah,10, Winter, seven, Fox, five, and Hunter, 18 months. We wear the latest designer clothes, go to theme parks such as Legoland and stay in lavish London hotels. We work with brands including Netflix to swimming pools and tents and even foreign holidays.

POSITIVE POSTS

I’m paid to provide content to inspire my followers to go on days out or buy children’s clothes. I post beautiful pictures and reels of our family online, capturing all the amazing things we get up to – dining in top restaurants, meeting celebs and attending premieres. Social media is a form of escapism and, like window shopping, browsing can make followers feel good, even if they don’t buy anything.

Esta historia es de la edición February 05, 2024 de WOMAN'S OWN.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición February 05, 2024 de WOMAN'S OWN.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE WOMAN'S OWNVer todo
FAST & THRIFTY DINNERS
WOMAN'S OWN

FAST & THRIFTY DINNERS

Filling family meals to save you time and money

time-read
3 minutos  |
January 06, 2025
ARE VIRAL FITNESS TRENDS WORTH THE HYPE?
WOMAN'S OWN

ARE VIRAL FITNESS TRENDS WORTH THE HYPE?

Keen to know if the workouts she sees online can actually make her fitter, Rachel Tompkins, 44, gives them a try

time-read
4 minutos  |
January 06, 2025
GO OUT OF SEASON
WOMAN'S OWN

GO OUT OF SEASON

While some European cities seem to go into hibernation over winter, others just get better in the colder months

time-read
2 minutos  |
January 06, 2025
MY LIFE IN MUSIC
WOMAN'S OWN

MY LIFE IN MUSIC

Monica Cafferky, 55, reveals how certain tunes bring back special memories

time-read
2 minutos  |
January 06, 2025
THE DECISION THAT CHANGED MY LIFE
WOMAN'S OWN

THE DECISION THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

After trying diets without success, Breanne Concannon, 31, was left feeling hopeless

time-read
5 minutos  |
January 06, 2025
MY TOY ΒΟΥ KEEPS ME YOUNG
WOMAN'S OWN

MY TOY ΒΟΥ KEEPS ME YOUNG

For Trish Hughes, 44, the thrills of being married to a man 20 years younger is worth all the judgement

time-read
4 minutos  |
January 06, 2025
'THAT'S NOT MY BABY'
WOMAN'S OWN

'THAT'S NOT MY BABY'

Lying in the hospital bed, my husband Michael had tears of happiness in his eyes as he showed me a photo on his phone. 'Here she is,' he said proudly. 'This is our beautiful baby girl.'I stared at the photo and shook my head. 'No, that's not my baby,' I said. 'There must be a mistake.'It was August 2010 and I'd not long before had an emergency caesarean. I'd not had a chance to see Winnie when she arrived as she'd been whisked away for tests because she was nearly two months premature.

time-read
4 minutos  |
January 06, 2025
CAUGHT IN THE ACT
WOMAN'S OWN

CAUGHT IN THE ACT

Hayley, 45, has her son to thank for crucial evidence

time-read
5 minutos  |
January 06, 2025
'I'D LOVE TO DO EASTENDERS'
WOMAN'S OWN

'I'D LOVE TO DO EASTENDERS'

Loose Women's Linda Robson on the daytime show, dating and her next career move

time-read
3 minutos  |
January 06, 2025
Beckhams INSIDE THEIR PROPERTY EMPIRE
WOMAN'S OWN

Beckhams INSIDE THEIR PROPERTY EMPIRE

We take a look at the power couple's posh pads

time-read
2 minutos  |
January 06, 2025