Peter Andre looks unrecognisable as he reveals curly hair for first time after admitting he was bullied for it as a kid
PETER Andre has revealed his curly hair for the first time after admitting he was bullied for it as a kid.
The 46-year-old, who normally has a straightened quiff, showed off his new look and asked fans what they thought of it.
He told his followers: “Do you know for so many years I would never wear my hair curly because I was picked on as a kid. But I don’t know I am trying to adopt it, maybe if I grow them a bit longer?
“I know it has to be what I am comfortable with but at the moment I am not confident. It’s pretty long.”
Peter, who is currently in Monaco for an event, used to be famed for having floppy curtains but has never revealed his curlier side before.
The singer has previously revealed he contemplated ending his life after suffering racist abuse from cruel bullies during his school days in Australia.
He told how not only pupils, but even his teachers and neighbours mocked his appearance and Greek-Cypriot heritage.
In a candid video for youth charity The Diana Award’s #Back2School campaign, Peter said: “Did I ever contemplate ending it? Yeah.”
Reflecting on moving from London, where he was born, to Australia, he continued: “In that period of time, yeah. Bullying is a horrible thing. It really is horrible. On every level. Unfortunately it happens. It’s been going on for generations.
“When you’re a kid with dark hair, dark eyes, strong English accent, much bigger nose than the kids around you, I was an outcast like you wouldn’t believe.
“I mean, I couldn’t have stuck out more. The term they used in Australia at the time was ‘wog’. ‘Wog’ was used for Greeks, for Italians, people from the Mediterranean.
“I mean, it happened instantly. Instantly. In our neighbourhood, where we moved into, you’d walk down the street and they’d go, ‘Get outta here, wog!’ That’s what it was like.”
Peter told of the heartbreaking moment a teacher used the derogatory term towards him, which he says made him feel like he was “finished”.
“I remember going up to the teacher and he said, ‘What do you want?'” said the star.
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“I said, ‘I’m going to be in your class next year. He said, ‘Yeah, I’ve never had a greasy wog in my class. Greasy wogs don’t do well in my class. You’re going to sit up the back, right?’
“Now instantly, I knew then, I was finished.
“I had the kids at school picking on me, the teachers picking on me. Imagine being in this place, that’s got the sunshine, got the beach, got everything you can imagine, but you’re at school and no one wants to talk to you. No one wants to associate themselves with you.”