Towie’s Megan McKenna ‘judged quicker’ in music after reality TV past: ‘I’ve had it harder than a lot of new artists’

Megan is now a country pop scarlet (Picture: GC Images)

Megan McKenna has opened up about the struggles of transitioning from reality TV to a music career, and feels she’s had to work ‘twice as hard’ as other new artists.

The TV star is best known for starring in reality series like The Only Way Is Essex, Celebrity Big Brother and Ex On The Beach, where her relationships and all their dramas played out in front of the nation. 

However, in 2019, Megan got her big break in the music industry when she appeared on The X Factor: Celebrity and won, allowing her to focus on her true passion of becoming a recording artist. 

She’s now making a name for herself in the country pop scene but it’s had its challenges for the former reality TV star. 

‘I feel like The X Factor was a brilliant platform to kind of show people that I’m more than just [reality] TV,’ Megan told Metro.co.uk ahead of her gigs in London and Manchester this weekend. 

‘I’m so happy I did The X Factor and I notice now people come up to me and they actually say about my music, so it’s very rare that people come up to me and talk about TV which is a good sign. 

Megan feels she’s ‘fits in’ with the Nashville scene (Picture: Redferns)

‘Going to Nashville and working there a little while has opened my eyes to people over there. Everyone’s just so loving and wants to be a performer and I just feel like I fit in over there so well. 

‘Making my own little niche is so much more fun for me.’ 

A chance encounter with Nashville queen Dolly Parton is still on the cards, FYI. 

Acknowledging the hardships, she revealed: ‘I feel like I’ve had it harder than a lot of new artists because I get judged quicker because I’m from TV. Any genre that I do, I have to work twice as hard. I’m a little bit more mainstream. It’s quite hard to bring full country over here, people are a little bit wary of it. 

Megan will perform two shows this weekend

‘I think people need to be a little bit more open-minded – it’s not all standing there with slide guitars and country hats. Where my country comes into music it’s the storytelling side of it.’ 

Despite towing the line between country and full-blown pop, Megan, 29, has chosen to keep her artistry less sexualised and more focused on the music. 

‘I feel like there’s nothing wrong with sexing music up, it empowers women sometimes,’ she explained. 

‘But for me the music should be about the realness, the story behind the person. I feel like a lot of my music’s like that. A lot of people message me that my music is like therapy and helps them through bad times.’ 

The High Heeled Shoes singer, who released her debut album Story of Me in 2018, stated she ‘doesn’t regret anything’ when it comes to her reality TV career. 

She said: ‘I’m proud of everything I’ve done. Yeah, I may have been a little bit silly and swore a few times on TV but I feel like any normal person if they were being filmed at the age of 22 with alcohol in front of them, they would have done the same. 

‘You’ve just got to grow up, I’ve definitely grown up and now I’m finally doing what I love.’ 

Megan McKenna will perform at London Lafayette on Saturday, November 13 and Manchester Club Academy on Sunday, November 14.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : Katie Price admits she ‘could have killed someone’ as she opens up on drink-drive crash

MORE : Strictly Come Dancing’s Adam Peaty believes he’s on autism spectrum