PETER Andre has revealed the heartbreaking reason he always straightens his hair after experiencing racism in his formative years.
The star's hair is naturally curly, but he straightens his locks after being left scarred for life by childhood bullying.
Peter, now 49, was targeted as a child when his Cypriot-Greek family moved from the UK to Australia – where they were the only "ethnic" family around.
"In the early years in Australia, I suffered a lot of racism. It was a rough time," he said.
“Not only were we the only Greeks on the Gold Coast, but I had an English accent, curly hair, a big nose – and we really stood out.
"I still straighten my hair because the curly hair reminds me of me being that little kid and those kids calling me what they did at school.”
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Peter emotionally revealed that even decades later he won't leave his hair in its natural curls because of nasty remarks he received as a child.
“I still wouldn’t be seen dead in a nightclub because I associate it with trauma. These guys were serious.
“I kept thinking, ‘What have I done wrong?’ And that’s when I started to internalise the fear.
"I just bottled it up and thought, ‘I’ll be fine’.
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"Because other people can’t see it, they think you’re fine, and you suffer in silence."
He continued on Carol Vorderman's Life Changing Stories – The Pride of Britain Podcast: “Millions of people suffer like this, there are little trigger points that make them fearful.
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“I wouldn’t just turn up to an event with full curly hair. I just can’t bring myself to do it, even now, and I’ve had therapy.
"I still see what those kids called me when I look in the mirror.”
He previously revealed that things had been so bad he contemplated suicide, and he was even targeted by a teacher in one shocking racist attack.
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