Thursday 28 January 2010

an interview with alex curran. what are the incredible recipes to make her husband stays calm with her?






"I love the new me and Steven does, too," says Alex. "He loves the fact that I've ditched my unhealthy habits and has helped motivate me to keep up the hard work."


Alex met Steven, 29, through a mutual friend in 2002 and the couple recently celebrated their second wedding anniversary on holiday in Portugal with their daughters Lilly-Ella, five, and three-year-old Lexie.

So, does Alex feel that marriage has brought them even closer?

"Yes, most definitely," she says smiling. "It hasn't changed the way we are with each other necessarily but it has made both of us feel more secure.

"I'm proud to be Steven's wife."

It's been a difficult time for the couple after Steven was charged with affray following a brawl in a Southport nightclub in December. He was cleared of all charges at Liverpool Crown Court 11 days ago. And Alex is relieved they are now able to move on with their lives.

"We've had a stressful few months lately with Steven's trial but we've stuck together as a family and we're now glad it's all over," she says.

With two adorable daughters, Alex says that both she and Steven may think about having more children in the future but she's in no hurry. "I don't want another baby right now I've got my new figure!" she laughs.

"Maybe in a few years. It would be nice for Steven to have a boy to play football with and give him some male company in a house full of girls. Ultimately, both of us are glad we had children when we were young.

"Steven was really keen to be a young dad. He was only 24 when I had Lilly-Ella but he was ready for it.

"He's a brilliant dad and is very hands-on. When the girls were younger he was happy to change nappies and feed them but I always gave him a night off if he had a game the next day.''

In person, Alex, 26, is warm, friendly and confident. It comes as a surprise then to learn that she is self-conscious about certain parts of her figure.

At the age of 18, she had a breast enlargement to take her from a B-cup to a C-cup. Then after the birth of her daughter Lexie in 2006 she had another operation to take her to a D-cup. But she now regrets her decision.

"I wish I'd never touched them!" she admits.

"At the time, I thought big boobs were nice and that it was the right thing to do but I don't like their size or shape.

"Also some of my clothes don't look right on a bigger bust.

"I've thought about having a reduction but I decided to leave them as they are."

When down-to-earth Alex met Steven she worked in a nail salon in Liverpool but gave up working full-time when they started a family.

Her first job came as a result of the press attention given to the wives and girlfriends of the players at the Euro 2004 Championships.

"That's when the offers started to come in," recalls Alex. "The first shoot I did was with Lilly-Ella, when she was only about eight months."

And in spite of Steven's footballer's salary Alex likes to maintain her financial independence.

"My photoshoots are a little career for me, although I wouldn't describe myself as a model.

"I enjoy working when I can, and I launched my own perfume which was successful. But my main priority is to be a mum.

"Steven hardly gets any time off so it's important that I'm around for the girls."

Alex admits she is used to critics carping about her riding on the back of Steven's success and accepts his profile has helped to boost her career.

"I can't complain because it's given me an opportunity I probably wouldn't have had otherwise," she says matter-

of-factly.

Although Alex has been described as an uber-WAG, she doesn't socialise much with the other players' wives.

"I cheer Steven on as often as I can and I go to all the big matches," she says. "We have a box now which is great because it makes it easier for Lilly and Lexie to come along. But it means I don't get to see the other girls as much, which is a shame.

"My mind does drift off when I'm watching the match," she adds.

"I'm not really a footballing person. I don't know too much about the game and I couldn't tell you the offside rule. As long as I know that Steven or Liverpool have scored and whether they've won, that's what matters.

"I go to Anfield to enjoy the atmosphere but at home we never talk about football. That's Steven's world. Of course, I am interested in how well he is doing with Liverpool and England. I was so proud of him when he won the Football Writers' Player of the Year this year - and he is equally supportive of my career."

It might seem that Liverpool-born Alex is often photographed with bags from her favourite boutique Cricket hanging off her arm. But she likes nothing more than spending time at the family's home in Formby.

"I do most of the washing, ironing and cooking," jokes Alex. "But that's just as well as Steven can't cook to save his life! The best meal he's ever cooked me is beans on toast. Now I'm on this new, healthy eating regime, I cook lots of grilled chicken and stir-fries, so there are no complaints!

"Steven's really encouraged my healthier habits. And he's good at paying me compliments - I know he likes my new figure.

"The only thing he's not a fan of are my feet and I can't blame him. My toes are abnormally long - they look like claws!

"He often teases me, saying: 'Are you messin' with them toes?'

"For those who don't speak Scouse 'Are you messin' means 'Are you being serious?'

"Who knows, one day I might even find an LA surgeon to make them shorter!"

People..thanks for coming