Lottie Tomlinson has opened up on dealing with her grief, after the tragic deaths of both her mother and her little sister within three years.
The influencer, 25, lost her mum Johannah in 2016, after she lost her battle against leukemia at the age of 43, when Lottie herself was just 18.
Appearing on Lorraine on Thursday, the makeup artist explained how she went into ‘survival and instinct mode’ and stepped into the maternal role for her younger siblings.
However, just three years later she suffered another devastating loss when her little sister Félicité died at 18 from an accidental drug overdose in 2019, and admitted that she had ‘never expected’ it could get worse after losing her mum.
Lottie – who is the younger sister of One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson – has reflected on the enormously difficult chapters of her life in her new memoir Lucky Girl.
Lottie Tomlinson has opened up on dealing with her grief, after the tragic deaths of both her mother and her little sister within three years
The influencer, 25, lost her mum Johannah in 2016, after she lost her battle against leukemia at the age of 43, when Lottie herself was just 18 (pictured together)
Just three years later she suffered another devastating loss when her little sister Félicité died at 18 from an accidental drug overdose in 2019, as she admitted that she had ‘never expected’ it could get worse after losing her mum (pictured with Félicité)
She recently revealed that she was expecting her second child with her fiancé Lewis Burton last month, after they welcomed son Lucky in August 2022.
Explaining the significance of the name Lucky and why she’s chosen it for the title of her book, she told Christine Lampard that it stems from her mum Johannah.
Lottie said: ‘I think it’s just always been the way that she was able to feel grateful for what she’s got when she was really ill. And I think that’s always stuck with me and it’s such a powerful trait to carry through life.
‘It’s been a massive way that I have been able to cope with a lot of my grief is by trying to change really negative, sad things that have happened into a positive in any way that might be.
‘Even if it’s a small positive, it just helps you kind of cope and get through it.’
She explained she had taken on the maternal role in her family following her mum’s death because she needed to be there for younger siblings Félicité, Phoebe, Daisy, Ernest and Doris, adding that the responsibility at such a young age ‘set the tone’ for the rest of her life.
Lottie said: ‘I think it was such a natural instinct for me and I credit my mum for that because she instilled this really maternal instinct into us all.
‘I think when something like that happens, you go into a survival and instinct mode and straight away I knew that the little ones needed me and I wanted to do whatever I could to make things easier for them.
Lottie – who is the younger sister of One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson – has reflected on the enormously difficult chapters of her life in her new memoir Lucky Girl
She recently revealed that she was expecting her second child with her fiancé Lewis Burton last month, after they welcomed son Lucky in August 2022 (pictured together)
She explained she had taken on the maternal role in her family following her mum’s death because she needed to be there for younger siblings Félicité, Phoebe, Daisy, Ernest and Doris (pictured) adding that the responsibility ‘set the tone’ for the rest of her life
‘It kind of came naturally, but it was such a life changing experience for me to have that responsibility and I think it really set the tone for everything else that happened in my life.’
However, she recalled how losing Félicité soon after compounded her grief, admitting the struggle with going ‘back to square one’.
She said: ‘I think it was just really hard that we knew we were going to have to go back to square one and deal with it all again.
‘When something as big as losing a parent happens, you never expect it to get any worse than that, and then it did.’
Lottie continued: ‘So it was a really tough time for the whole family, but I think we’ve really stuck together and we’ve managed to come through the other side.
‘That’s why I wrote the book so I could show people that through those dark times of grieving you can come through and be happy again.’
Speaking about her pregnancy, she gushed how thrilled she and Lewis, 32, were to be giving Lucky a sibling.
She said: ‘Baby number 2 is on the way and we are just so excited to grow the family and to give my boy Lucky a sibling.
However, she recalled how losing Félicité soon after compounded her grief, admitting the struggle with going ‘back to square one’ (pictured together as children)
Speaking about her pregnancy, she gushed how thrilled she and Lewis, 32, were to be giving Lucky a sibling
Christine asked her about the comparisons fans have drawn between Lucky and his famous uncle, Louis
Lottie admitted the pair share a strong resemblance and gushed how good an uncle the singer was (pictured with Louis, Daisy and Phoebe)
‘I think it’s such a different thing when you’re giving your child a sibling… He’s just about to turn two so he knows there is a baby in there and he will say “baby” but I don’t think he quite understands.’
Christine asked her about the comparisons fans have drawn between Lucky and his famous uncle, Louis.
Lottie admitted the pair share a strong resemblance and gushed how good an uncle the singer was.
She said: [Lucky] has a real kind of mop hairstyle and he’s got a rock star dress sense so people do compare and I can see it, definitely. [Louis] is a great uncle, he spoils everybody and Lucky loves him.’
Lottie has previously admitted she regrets Félicité not having access to the help she desperately needed in the years after their mother’s death and has campaigned for families to have further aid after suffering loss.
She has teamed up with bereavement support charity Sue Ryder to help those through the early stages of grief.
She explained: ‘It’s been amazing to work with Sue Ryder as well because as soon started to get to a more comfortable place with my grief, I wanted to help people in that beginning stage because I didn’t think I’d ever get through it.
‘They’ve got so many amazing support systems for people, counselling for free, grief cafes where people can go along and talk, and I would’ve loved to have known about that.’
She happily concluded: ‘I’m in the best place I’ve been in and I feel so grateful that I’ve got to this point.’
