Kate Ferdinand has partied in Ibiza with her husband Rio Ferdinand on Monday after addressing accusations that she married him for money.
The former TOWIE star, 35, wore glitzy semi-sheer trousers and a brown crop top as she showcased her tiny waist during a fun-filled night out at a club on the party island with her husband and pals.
Kate and former Manchester United footballer Rio, 47, who married in 2019, have been enjoying time away together following public scrutiny over their relationship.
Kate rose to prominence on the ITVbe reality television series The Only Way Is Essex, commonly abbreviated as TOWIE, before leaving the show in 2017. Rio, a former England national team defender, has an estimated net worth of £57 million.
The couple co-parent three teenage children from Rio's previous marriage: Tate, 18, Lorenz, 19, and Tia, 15. They are also parents to two young children together, five-year-old son Cree and two-year-old daughter Shae.
Accusations and response on Blended podcast
Their Spanish holiday follows a recent appearance on a live broadcast of Kate's podcast series, Blended. During the episode, co-host Cilla Kessie asked the couple what they believed the public perception of their relationship had been over the past decade.
Addressing the online commentary, Kate admitted that some members of the public had questioned her motives. "People think I'm a gold digger, I'm with him for money. I'm basically his nanny that he doesn't pay," Kate said.
She explained that she feels secure enough in her marriage not to react to the allegations. "I always say if I wanted to pick a rich man I could have picked a lot easier one without all the kids. If it was just a money thing, it's true though," she insisted.
Expressing her commitment to her husband, Kate added: "I'm here because I love you, there are great things and there are hard things."
Step-parenting and family background
Kate was 25 when she started dating Rio in 2016, giving up her reality television career shortly afterwards to devote herself to being a step-mother. She has spoken openly about the challenges of raising a blended family following the death of Rio's late wife, Rebecca, who tragically died from breast cancer in 2015 at the age of 34.
During the live broadcast, Rio was asked if he ever felt guilty for "snatching Kate out of her life and bringing her into this domestic world and she's carrying with her all the criticisms and difficulties".
Rio admitted that he had considered the impact on her life. "I've thought about that a lot," Rio said. Turning to Kate, he added: "There have been big issues that have happened, especially on where I have thought your life could be so much more simple without me, and without us."
He continued: "As much pain and hard yards we have brought to her life, I think it balances out the goodness we have brought to her life as well. But I do appreciate the stress we have brought to her life as well."
Adapting to a blended family
Rio opened up about the emotional transition after losing Rebecca, admitting that creating a blended family with Kate "wasn't a smooth transition. I had to adapt a lot but big things."
Detailing the sequence of events his family experienced, Rio said: "Rebecca died, I became a single parent but I had my mum there, my mum became that mother figure but then my mum died quickly after and I then became a single parent but then Kate arrived."
Describing how the household adjusted, he added: "So I never got into a mad rhythm, I didn't get into a two year rhythm, we morphed. It was change, adapt."
Rio explained that giving Kate authority in the home was essential for their success. "The thing I had to open up to, and it can make or break the whole situation, is allowing Kate to parent," he said.
He emphasized the importance of balance when bringing a new partner into an established family. "When you've got kids and someone new is coming in, you have to give them the space to parent and trust them but set the boundaries too," Rio noted, recalling their approach: '"This is how I parent, this is what we do, now let's see your version". I can't just dictate. It's been a really open back and forth.'
The couple have also been tipped to appear together on an upcoming I'm A Celebrity spin-off show filmed in Canada.
