Angie Kent makes candid cosmetics confession: ‘I was so ashamed’

Angie Kent is one of Australia’s favourite TV personalities, from the Gogglebox couch to The Bachelorette mansion she’s always got something to say. Here she opens up on her cosmetic procedures and becoming a 'real life doll version' of herself.

I’ve been trying to think of the very first time I really started to care what people thought of me. As a child I always loved to dress up and put on shows, but I also loved to run around with no shoes on and not shower for days on end.

I’m not entirely sure, but one pivotal moment was when a naturopath told me that ‘you are what you eat’. Telling a 14 year old girl who was already riddled with hormones, acne, and suddenly getting attention from men double her age, was NOT IT on any level. That one silly little comment happened to change my life forever.

My obsession with food began

My obsession with my skin and how I thought I could control it started there and then. I became totally obsessed with my food intake. If I could put it in my mouth, then I could control it coming out. That’s where this unhealthy obsession of control came into play. When you’re a teenager you often have a lot of stuff that is out of your control, so I figured out one way I could control my life. And this was it.

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Fast forward to me aged 25 and cosmetic procedures. You know what, I don’t regret that. I had a great registered nurse in the non-surgical beauty field who always made sure I didn’t go too far. She helped with my acne scarring, told me how great botox was and how a little bit of lip filler would change my life - and it did. Not like mentally and spiritually but it made a whole world of difference.

My whole face changed

I did however start to get a little more obsessed with the way that I looked when people started commenting on my face after being on TV. I was either wearing too much make-up, not enough make-up, was too skinny, or had lost control. Those cameras and the commentary online and in the press are triggering. They open old wounds, doubts and old conditionings that you forgot about, or didn’t even realise you had. When asked to be The Bachelorette, the first thing I thought was, ‘How are they going to find 20 men who would want to date me?’, I am definitely not ‘Bachelorette pretty’ - that’s where my mind took me.

I figured my humour was my main selling point and that they would pick a bunch of dudes with a delicious sense of humour who love awkward, sweaty funny girls. And this isn’t a poor me piece, I am fully aware I am a white small-ish woman who identified as straight for a long time, but that certainly didn’t mean at the time, my brain was working in a space of knowing or understanding this.

What eventuated was a real life doll version of myself. The eating disorder kicked back in full throttle. After The Bachelorette and when my whole public relationship turned to s***, whilst in the midst of a global pandemic where all we could do is eat our feelings mostly- all my thoughts and triggers resurfaced full throttle. I had my first movie to film and almost immediately, those thoughts began to consume my brain again.

As filming wrapped, I started seeing a practitioner who said I looked tired. This is when my love for cosmetic procedures went from a safe little freshen up to my whole face changing in a matter of a year. I can’t even look back at photos of myself during that year without cringing and thinking why? Why would I allow someone to do that to me and why did I think I needed that?

Kristin Davis (Charlotte from Sex and the City) has recently spoken out about the relentless ridiculing she received over her facial fillers. She said that for the longest time no one told her it didn’t look good. But I get it, how can you tell a vulnerable person that they don’t look good? But beyond that, why is there so much pressure to stay looking a version of ‘young’?

The pain I went through that year physically from all the needles, but also mentally from seeing my face change so dramatically was so detrimental, not to mention sending the wrong message to so many women who had been following me since I was in my mid twenties. It is ok to grow up and age. I had to lie. I was so ashamed of myself.

My healing girl era

I was in such a vulnerable place. I needed TLC. The best kind of work I have done is the work I do within. I know that is corny as s*** and so cliche, but It’s the truth. It is of course way easier to sit back and judge others than to sort out your own s***, I get it. But how boring, when you can start learning and loving from unconditioned eyes and create your own way of thinking, moving and feeling. Doing the work is hardcore, but at least I am saving money on making myself look like a blow up doll and spending it on rebirthing retreats and cacao ceremonies (she’s in her healing girl era).

I totally still stan for a cheeky bit of filler and botox do not get me wrong there. But make sure you trust your practitioner and they know what your beautiful unique feature is/are. Having the right cosmetic practitioner is a must. Do your research. Know who is sticking needles in your face and taking your money.

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