Megan McKenna

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Megan McKenna – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Megan McKenna (born 26 September 1992) is an English television personality, singer, and entrepreneur. From reality TV to music, her journey is full of reinvention, resilience, and artistic ambition. Discover her biography, career highlights, and memorable quotations.

Introduction

Megan Elizabeth McKenna is best known as a bold, multi-talented English celebrity who has crossed from reality television into music, writing, and business. She first gained widespread recognition through shows like Ex on the Beach, Celebrity Big Brother, and The Only Way Is Essex, then made a name for herself in music by winning The X Factor: Celebrity. Her story is one of persevering through public scrutiny, dealing with health challenges, and striving to be taken seriously as an artist. Her life continues to evolve — as of recent years, she became a mother and remains active in creative fields.

Early Life and Family

Megan McKenna was born on 26 September 1992 in Barking, London, England. Her father’s side of the family has Irish heritage.

In her youth, she experienced bullying at school, an experience she later shared in her autobiography Mouthy. To pursue training in musical theatre, McKenna and her family moved to Chiswick (west London) so she could attend Arts Educational Schools (ArtsEd).

She has also publicly revealed that she lives with coeliac disease, a chronic digestive condition. In 2023, she suffered facial burns in a freak accident involving a jug of gravy, which made headlines.

Youth, Education & Entry into Entertainment

From an early age, McKenna showed an interest in performance. In 2009, she competed on Britain’s Got Talent (as part of a duo called Harmony) and reached the semi-finals. That same year she also appeared in an advert tied to The Inbetweeners.

She auditioned for The X Factor multiple times (2014, 2015), reaching bootcamp stages, though she did not yet break through at that point.

Her early TV appearances also included a 2010 episode of The Only Way Is Essex, where she auditioned for a girl group LOLA.

These early steps set the stage for her reality TV and music crossover trajectory.

Career and Achievements

Rise in Reality Television

• In 2015, McKenna appeared on Ex on the Beach (series 3). She later returned for series 4 but exited early due to the passing of her grandfather.

• In 2016, she was a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother (UK). During her time in the house, she received a formal warning for aggressive behavior toward other housemates. She was the fourth contestant evicted after 18 days.

• Also in 2016, McKenna joined the cast of The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE) as a full-time cast member. She remained until late 2017, after which she chose to focus more seriously on her music career.

She even starred in her own TV show There’s Something About Megan (2017), which documented her journey to Nashville and her push into country music.

Music & Artistic Pivot

• In 2017, McKenna released her first singles, High Heeled Shoes and Far Cry from Love. Both quickly topped British iTunes charts within 24 hours.

• In 2018, she launched her debut studio album, Story of Me, which included tracks like Everything But You, High Heeled Shoes, and History. The album placed at No. 4 on the UK Country Chart. She also went on a UK tour (the Story of Me Tour) from May to September 2019.

• In 2019, McKenna competed in The X Factor: Celebrity. Performing her own songs, she won with 46.3% of the final vote. As a result, she earned a record deal with Syco Music.

• By 2022, she departed from Syco, citing creative differences — particularly that the label leaned more toward pop while she preferred country. She then embarked on releasing independent music, committing to drop songs weekly (starting with Baby Talk in June 2022).

• Over her career so far, her discography includes one studio album, one EP, and numerous singles.

Business, Writing & Other Ventures

• In 2017, she launched a restaurant called MCK Grill in Woodford Green.

• She also released a hair extension line in collaboration with Easilocks.

• McKenna is an author of several books:
  • Mouthy (2018) — her autobiography, which became a Sunday Times bestseller.
  • Can You Make That Gluten Free? (2021) — a cookbook centered around her dietary needs due to coeliac disease.
  • Love Gluten Free (2025) — another cookbook focused on gluten-friendly recipes.

• She has also appeared on cooking/competition shows, notably Celebrity MasterChef (2021, 2022) and a Festive Extravaganza version.

• In more recent years, she co-created a gluten-free bread brand Naturally Genius, in partnership with Genius Foods.

Historical & Cultural Context

Megan McKenna’s trajectory reflects a broader trend: the blending of reality TV fame with artistic ambitions in music, fashion, and business. Many modern celebrities use the visibility from TV appearances to pivot into deeper creative avenues. Her persistence in transitioning from reality star to a credible musician captures the challenges of rebranding in public life.

Her public discussion of coeliac disease also contributes to visibility for chronic health issues among public figures, challenging stigma and increasing awareness.

Her path mirrors the evolving entertainment ecosystem in the UK, where crossover between television, music, publishing, and entrepreneurship is becoming increasingly common.

Legacy and Influence

Although still in the midst of her career, McKenna’s influence is already notable in several areas:

1. Redefining Genre Boundaries
   She has pushed for authenticity in her music, resisting label pressures to adopt pop styles when her passion leans toward country. This stance can inspire other artists to hold firm to their artistic identity.

2. Visibility for Health & Wellness
   By sharing her experience with coeliac disease and managing it in public, she brings awareness to dietary conditions and the challenges that come with them.

3. Role Model in Reinvention
   Her shift from reality TV personality to a multi-faceted creator offers a blueprint for people who want to evolve publicly beyond their initial persona.

4. Empowerment Through Voice
   McKenna’s candid-voice attitude (reflected in her book Mouthy) encourages others to speak their truths and own their narrative, even in the face of criticism.

Personality, Style & Values

Megan McKenna is described as passionate, outspoken, resilient, and determined. Her public commentary often emphasizes being taken seriously as a musician beyond her reality TV roots. For example:

“I just really wanted to be taken seriously in my music … sometimes you just need to pull away and take time for yourself.”

She also acknowledges the downside of reality television:

“The reality shows … gave me a good platform … but not for my music.”

Her style blends glamour and authenticity — she has undergone transformations in look (removing fillers, embracing more natural styles) as her artistic identity matured.

She also posts about her cooking, motherhood, and personal growth, showing a balance of public performance and private life.

Famous Quotes of Megan McKenna

Here are some of her more widely cited quotations:

• “I just really wanted to be taken seriously in my music and I feel like I’ve done the reality shows … but being on those reality shows … made it harder for me to be taken seriously.”

• “I’m a huge fan of the Pussycat Dolls, I always have been.”

• “But being on those reality shows before, don’t get me wrong, it gave me a good platform … but not for my music.”

Additionally, from Goodreads, some more reflective lines attributed to her:

“Whenever we use our religion, as individuals, or as groups within the church, to act in tandem with political and economic groups that arrest the voice of truth or destroy others, then we are Judas.”
“And morning came… It still comes.”

From Wise Famous Quotes:

“Scream silently in your prayer; remember the pain of others.”
“The essence of a mature human being … is the ability to see … others’ suffering and … be touched by it.”

These quotations show her range — from reflections on faith, empathy, and purpose, to commentary on her own artistic challenges.

Lessons from Megan McKenna

From her journey, several lessons emerge:

1. Don’t Be Defined by One Platform
   Starting in reality TV doesn’t have to limit your identity. McKenna shows that you can rebrand and grow beyond where you began.

2. Hold Firm to Your Creative Vision
   She resisted label pressures and chose to pursue country music rather than conform to pop trends. Staying true to your artistic instincts matters.

3. Vulnerability Builds Connection
   By sharing her health struggles, bullying stories, and personal transformations, she connects more deeply with her audience.

4. Reinvention is Continuous
   Her transitions — TV → music → business → motherhood — illustrate that a public career is rarely static.

5. Balance Public & Private Self
   While her life is public in many ways, she has also navigated personal trauma, health, and identity behind the scenes. That balance is key to longevity.

Conclusion

Megan McKenna is no mere reality show star — she is an evolving artist, entrepreneur, author, and public figure whose story is still being written. Her determination to be taken seriously in her music, her willingness to share struggles, and her efforts to reimagine her brand offer valuable inspiration for anyone building a public life.