SHE was the first transgender person to appear on E4’s Married At First Sight UK – and now ELLA MORGAN is making history again, as the first trans celebrity to represent high-street store Superdrug.
But the Channel 4 reality TV star admits that her latest brand deal has been more bitter-sweet than she hoped.
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This followed the Supreme Court ruling that prevents transgender women from being legally recognised as female.
It means that Ella, 31, who underwent gender reassignment surgery, is now worried to appear in public.
She told me at the BAFTA nominees party: “I’m very proud to be the new face of Superdrug, we shot all the photos for the campaign before the ruling, and I was thrilled to be there to represent.
“I know being a trans advocate and a role model for the community right now means more than ever, I want to be that voice to help people understand what it’s like for transgender people.
“But for the first time, I’ve been scared to go out and get on the train as an open trans woman, I’ve never felt so scared to use the changing rooms, or go into the toilet.
“I’m hoping that the Superdrug campaign will just help to promote more understanding.”
This comes after the star took a swipe at her ex, JJ Slater as she opened up on his relationship with Katie Price
The Pricey confirmed her relationship with the reality TV personality in February last year.
Ella largely refrained from commenting on JJ’s new relationship until she sat down with her MAFS co-star, relationship expert Paul C. Brunson.
Speaking on his We Need To Talk podcast, Ella said his relationship with Katie “makes her laugh.”
She admitted: “It does make me laugh. Because I’m like ‘you say I’m crazy’ – and I love Katie – but you’re with her now.
“So, yeah, you never know. I just wasn’t the right person for him.
“And I haven’t actually seen him since we did the show because we were texting before the vow renewals and I knew he wasn’t feeling it.
“I knew he was going to say no at the vow renewals and I actually wanted to say yes.”
Mafs couples that have stood the test of time
Loved-up Tayah Victoria and Adam Aveling of series six fame had the first Mafs baby.
The pair couldn’t keep their hands off each other on the programme and quickly found their feet in the outside world, moving into Adam’s Doncaster home.
Just 18 months after meeting, the couple welcomed their daughter Beau.
Season five couple Michelle Walder and Owen Jenkins also managed to make their marriage work away from the cameras and had their first child in December.
Teacher Michelle, 29, has no regrets about taking part in the experiment. She told us: “I just feel very lucky and thankful that it has worked out – and excited for everything to come.”
Michelle and Owen were both sick of dating apps when they applied in 2019.
Owen recalled: “I had been out for some drinks with a friend after work.
“While he was out for a cigarette I was scrolling on Instagram waiting for him to come back in.
“The MAFS advert was the last thing I saw, and I joked, ‘Wouldn’t it be funny if I signed up?’
“A few beers later when I was back at home I sent in the application, and the rest is history.”
Another couple to make Mafs UK history is Zoe Clifton and Jenna Robinson.
Despite a slight rocky start, where they clashed over Jenna’s vegan lifestyle, the show’s first same sex pairing are still going strong.
They even have a successful podcast together called Life With a Pod.
Jenna shed light on being involved in the show earlier this year when she told us: “We’re not legally married, and I never felt like we were. I definitely feel the process makes you take the relationship a lot more seriously and having the help of the experts… if you can survive that process it sets a firm foundation for a long-lasting relationship.”
She added: “I actually didn’t get over JJ for – because it was such a big moment in my life on such a big public scale – I’d say it took me six to eight months to get over him.
“I really did like him, but I’m fully over him now and I wish him the best and Katie the best.”
Ella also dated JJ after they had an affair on the E4 show and re-entered the process as a new couple in a huge scandal.
She cheated on her husband Nathanial Valentino after they got into a furious bust-up during their honeymoon.
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