Megan McKenna Opens Up About Street Abuse

 has vowed to show another side of herself after her past earned her the nickname 'Mental Meg'. 

The TV personality, 33, first found fame on before appearing on and The Only Way Is Essex, with her fiery personality making her a fan favourite but also earning her the aforementioned nickname. 

Now, older, wiser and a mother to 19-month-old son Landon, Megan is ready to show the public a different side, having recorded a set of deeply personal songs after pivoting to a country music career. 

Speaking to Daily Mail, Megan explained: 'I'm in a completely different part of my life now. I always used to want to hide the fact that I was on TV but this time I've gone into it and I'm embracing this.

'I was just young, making silly mistakes on TV. I wasn't in the right situations with people, and I wasn't that happy in my life, and on these shows the smallest things can be blown out of proportion.'

Such was the backlash that Megan revealed that she wasn't just trolled on social media, but people would say abusive comments to her in the street. 

Now, however, Megan is on a mission to show the public who she is now. 

Megan released her debut studio album, Story of Me in 2018, which reached No1 of the UK's Official Country Albums Chart, and the following year she won The X Factor: Celebrity, earning herself a record deal with Simon Cowell’s music label Syco.

However, just a year later, COVID hit and the record deal collapsed. Yet Megan took the knockback in her stride. 

She explained: 'Simon called me and that was a really nice thing, he didn't need to do that.

'It did hit me, you know, that, I don't have a deal now, but there were so many other artists that were in the same position as me.

'So I just thought, this is another dip, it's not meant to happen right now. 

'This is how I get on with things I feel like the people that make it in life always had the roughest and hardest up and down roads to get there.'

Indeed, Megan is battling against misconceptions based on her reality TV background, but has learnt how to use this a strength. 

'The one thing about me is I always wore my heart on my sleeve and I was always very open with my emotions, and it used to get me into trouble,' she explained. 

'But that is something that I've learnt to use as a power. I like to tell people how it is, but as I've grown up and matured, I definitely know how to handle that more, whereas 10 years ago I didn't say it the right way.' 

Megan went on to explain that she was being filmed at her 'weakest and most vulnerable' times and while she can now laugh at her 'Mental Meg' nickname, she hopes her new music will do away with these misconceptions.  

'Songwriting for me is therapy. These songs are very personal - I feel like you can just really hear into my soul.' 

While Megan is hoping to release her new music later in the year, for now she's been enjoying a break from songwriting to enjoy a family holiday with husband Oliver Burke and their son Landon. 

The trio have jetted to Marbella, with Megan revealing she finally feels confident to post pictures in her swimwear after coming to terms with her post-baby figure. 

'During pregnancy I really embraced my belly but I definitely didn't snap back how I thought I would snap back.

'I did feel uncomfortable when I was in my swimwear last year, when I went away, but I've worked on myself and I just feel really good in my body this year.

'I've ordered loads of new swimwear and I feel like this is my summer to be like, I feel like I'm going back to my old self.

'I'm going to have a hot mum summer!'