THERE’S no doubt about it – life for Kelsey Parker has changed drastically in the last two years.
Not only did she lose her husband Tom Parker in 2022, but she also found herself an unexpected grief expert and spokesperson at just 32 years old.
The mum-of-two, who recently went public with her new man and was spotted on a family holiday with her fella two years after Tom Parker’s tragic passing, is the co-founder and owner of K2K Performing Arts School in Orpington.
Alongside her Performing Arts School, the 33-year-old, who lost Tom aged 33 following a battle with brain cancer, has a variety of savvy side hustles that have enabled her to cash in.
It’s been reported that The Wanted star died from cancer without writing a will, leaving his widow Kelsey with a net value of £71,500 in his estate.
But now the blonde beauty, who recently revealed she was “in a better place” mentally and went Instagram official with her tree surgeon boyfriend last month, is using her social media platform to fund her lavish lifestyle.
She has 434,000 followers on Instagram and an impressive handbag collection worth £12,050 alone.
Not only has she been seen with a £1,660 Prada Satin Mini bag with crystals and a white Prada bag, which appears to be sold out, but is strikingly similar to the Prada White Saffiano Tote Bag, which retails at £3,500, but she’s even got the £945 YSL Cassandre classic belt bag too.
That’s not all, as Kelsey also has a £630 Fendi Crossbody Bag with Chain, the £1,290 Fendi Baguette Phone Pouch, and the £225 out of stock Ganni Knot Mini Bag.
Another favourite of Kelsey’s is the £1,340 Gucci Marmont Small Shoulder bag, and she’s also got the iconic Louis Vuitton Neverfull Tote, which is £1,410.
And if that wasn’t enough, Kelsey has also been seen with the Burberry Mini Bucket Bag, which is £1,050.
So just how does the star maintain her designer lifestyle? From sponsored ads and freebie holidays, to her travel business and wellness treats, here we reveal all…
Whilst Kelsey isn’t a stranger to the odd selfie on Instagram, her social media platform is flooded with adverts too.
She’s often seen promoting a variety of different products – from all things including Radio Frequency skincare devices that target crow’s feet, and Dermatica skincare products.
Not only does she share her rave reviews of products, but she also offers her followers unique discount codes, so they too can try out her favourite products, which in turn will earn her a commission.
But it’s not just beauty ads that help to maintain Kelsey’s designer lifestyle – she gets her kids involved too.
Aurelia and Bodhi are often front and centre of adverts on Kelsey’s Instagram page, with the family having promoted products from a variety of well-known brands, including Crayola, Deichmann and Roald Dahl.
Not only have they been gifted huge boxes of pens and crayons, but they also stocked up on free shoes as they headed back to school, all in exchange for a quick post on social media.
And as well as receiving free books which you can order on Amazon, the little ones, in particular “mermaid obsessed” Aurelia, were particularly impressed when they were gifted L.O.L surprise dolls too.
Of course, receiving free beauty buys and toys are great, but Kelsey and her family have also been treated to free holidays too.
So instead of having to splash thousands on a posh hotel for a week, the family have been treated to stays at Rixos The Palm Hotel in Dubai.
In June, Kelsey shared some stunning snaps from her sunlounger, as she thanked the prestigious hotel for the “PR stay”.
Alongside declaring that the holiday was a freebie, she wrote: “Having the best time in Dubai!
“Me and the kids are loving it here so much, some much needed sunshine and a little reset.”
Not only is Kelsey lucky enough to go on trips for free, but she’s also got her very own travel business too – Get Away With Kelsey.
As a result of her online business, the content creator is on a mission to show people “how to earn from home, how to travel better with their families and how to earn around your jobs/kids and social life!”.
Posting online, the mother wrote: “Doing it for myself, doing it for my kids, doing it for the other mums and doing it because it’s 2024 & there are so many opportunities out there for the taking…
“I watched people do this for ages, I sat back on this for too long, I then watched my friend make money on bookings that were going ahead anyway, I knew I had to get involved and I did the same…
“I had to share this amazing opportunity with you all because if my friend hadn’t done the same for me then I wouldn’t be in this position now.
Kelsey and Tom were together for 13 years and have two children together
2009: Kelsey Hardwick and Tom Parker first met. Tom Parker was a member of the British-Irish boy band The Wanted.
2011: Kelsey and Tom started dating. Their relationship grew stronger as Tom’s career with The Wanted progressed.
2016: Tom proposed to Kelsey in a romantic setting. The couple announced their engagement to the public.
2018: Tom and Kelsey got married on 14th July 2018 in a beautiful ceremony attended by family and friends.
2019: The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Aurelia Rose Parker, in July.
2020: In October, Tom Parker revealed that he had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. Kelsey stood by his side, providing support and strength.
2020: The Parkers welcomed their second child, a son named Bodhi Thomas Parker, in October.
2021-2022: Throughout Tom’s battle with cancer, Kelsey continued to support him and raise awareness about his condition.
2022: Tom Parker sadly passed away on 30th March 2022, after his courageous battle with brain cancer. Kelsey honoured his memory with heartfelt tributes and continued to share their love story with the public.
Kelsey Parker remains dedicated to keeping Tom’s memory alive and continues to be an inspiration to many for her strength and resilience.
“I’m going to be able to create more memories, get paid for helping people make theirs and make a willable income for my babies…There’s room for us all to win.”
Kelsey organises Getaway Gang events to show other parents how to create a will-able and residual income from a phone, on their own schedule.
She explained: “Whether it is day trips, football matches, amusement, parks, hotels, or even holidays – I’m going to be showing you how you can monetize from bookings that were going to be made anyway!”
In addition to her travel business, Kelsey also organises Aura Retreats too.
Priced at £140 per person, Kelsey ran the retreats in February and March this year, giving people a “break from the chaos of everyday life”.
The retreats offer lunch and refreshments and start with an opening circle with intention-setting ritual and a Cacao ceremony.
They also offer calming breathwork series and sound baths, as well as focusing on movement and empowerment.
In between her wellness retreats and running her own travel company, Kelsey is also a podcast host – whereby she releases weekly episodes chatting to celebrity friends, experts, and listeners, to learn more about the secret world of parenting.
In the Mum’s The Word! podcast, Kelsey has honest and relatable conversations – from all things separation anxiety and female friendships, to home-schooling and the truth about mum guilt.
She often plugs her podcast on her social media channels and has featured a variety of famous faces – from Cara De La Hoyde and Chloe Lewis, to Louisa Lytton and Ollie and Gareth Locke.
And not only does she have a podcast, but Kelsey is also a published author too.
Kelsey has been very open with her grief battle since losing her husband, and not only did she lead a six-part documentary on ITVBe Kelsey Parker: Life After Tom, but she also landed a ‘six-figure book deal’, With And Without You, in September 2023.
In the deeply moving and personal story, Kelsey opened up on the first 12 months since Tom’s tragic passing, sharing how she coped with a year of unwanted firsts – first birthdays, first Christmas, first Valentine’s Day – all without the love of her life.
The autobiography was given a 4.6 rating out of five on Amazon, and has been praised by hundreds of fans as “wonderfully written” and an “inspiring read”.
