Kerry Katona branded 'bad role model' by former bandmate

Feb 20 2008 by Ben Schofield, Liverpool Daily Post

Former Atomic Kitten Kerry Katona _158

ATOMIC Kitten’s Liz McClarnon has branded her former bandmate a bad role model for children.

The pop star was being interviewed by Liverpool school children about the dangers of smoking when one asked what she thought of Kerry Katona (right).

After a brief pause, Miss McClarnon, 26, replied: "Kerry’s not a good role model but she wouldn’t put herself as one and she has things going on in her life that you wouldn’t want going on in your life.

"She’s going through a lot."

Mrs Katona was criticised widely for smoking during her pregnancies.

She was spotted smoking in 2006 while pregnant with daughter Heidi and has since admitted to smoking during her fourth pregnancy in 2007.

The pair were bandmates until 2001 when Mrs Katona left the group.

Miss McClarnon was a key note guest at the International Smokefree Movies Conference at St Georges Hall today.

Smokefree lobby group D-MYST had arranged for her to have a make-over to age one side of her face as if she had been smoking for 30 years.