'I fought SO HARD to be here'

As she releases her new book Still Beautiful, Katie Piper opens up about 'truly' living, contemplating adoption and the hot topic she'll never discuss on daytime TV

- GEMMA CALVERT

I feel like Jesus doing a baptism,' says Katie Piper, submerging herself into the swimming pool, wearing a full-length sheer kaftan and a grin that says she's entirely comfortable going the extra mile. And thank the Lord. It's mid-May and, while sun drenches the garden of our riverside location house, a chilly north-westerly wind has sent temperatures plummeting. Yet Katie, unfazed by the capricious British climes, delivers pose after saturated pose, stopping only momentarily when she clocks Summertime by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince playing poolside from someone's iPhone. 'Perfect weather for a beer and barbecue!' she chuckles before banking the final frames and diving into warmed bath towels. For the bestselling author, TV presenter, charity campaigner and mum of two [she shares daughters Belle, 11, and Penelope, seven, with her carpenter husband Richie Sutton, 41], life knows no limits, something she has proved repeatedly over 17 years, since an acid attack left her with life-altering physical and emotional injuries. While rebuilding her life and face through more than 400 operations – the early stage of her recovery was documented in her award-winning Channel 4 documentary