Katie Price admits JJ Slater's health battle sparked romance and led to message
Katie Price has opened up about how her relationship with boyfriend JJ Slater began, revealing that his type 1 diabetes diagnosis prompted her first message to him. The former Married at First Sight star, also known as John Joe, disclosed his condition earlier in the year, catching Katie's attention.
She reached out via Instagram, which led to their coffee date and the start of their romance. Despite a previous instance where JJ's direct message to Katie went unnoticed, they eventually connected and have been together since February.
Speaking about the new chapter with Woman's Own, Katie shared her initial reluctance towards a new relationship, saying: "I'd read in the paper that he'd got diabetes. I thought, 'Wow, that's quite harsh,' as diabetes is a life-changing thing to have.
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"I messaged and said, 'I hope you're okay with your diabetes'. And he said, 'Oh, I'm really embarrassed.' I went 'Why? ' Turns out he'd messaged me two years ago but I never saw it. It must have been deleted so it was obviously meant to be."
After splitting from ex-boyfriend Carl Wood and feeling "mentally exhausted" by relationships, Katie wasn't actively seeking love, much like JJ who had recently ended things with MAFS bride Ella Morgan. However, the pair decided to proceed "slowly" with their budding romance.
Katie has been singing the praises of JJ, describing him as "so calming and easy" and she credits him for showing her "what a healthy relationship is". The mum-of-five isn't quite saying JJ is "The One", yet hasn't dismissed the possibility, although she admits there's "no rush" to walk down the aisle just yet.
Despite having been married three times and open to saying 'I do' once more, Katie notes that JJ is "old fashioned" given he "hasn't even put a ring on my finger yet".
Katie, who catapulted to stardom at the tender age of 18 as Page 3 icon Jordan, exchanged vows with her first spouse Peter Andre in September 2005. They had two children together, Junior and Princess, before going their separate ways in 2009.
Her subsequent marriage was to the cage fighter Alex Reid in 2010; however, by 2012 they were officially divorced. She tied the knot again in 2013 with her third husband Kieran Hayler, with whom she shares Jett and Bunny.
Their marriage came to an end in 2019.
Currently known for her presence on OnlyFans, Katie also has her eldest son Harvey Price, whose father is the former football ace Dwight Yorke.
