EPISODE · Jun 18, 2026 · 1H 11M
The Press Shamed Me So Much I Left The Country | Amanda de Cadenet
from Begin Again with Davina McCall · host Begin Again
Amanda de Cadenet became famous as a teenager, but behind the headlines was a young girl trying to survive. This is the story of the woman behind the image. In this episode of Begin Again, Amanda de Cadenet joins Davina to talk about fame, shame, care, motherhood, sobriety, recovery, and what it means to finally tell your own story. Amanda opens up about growing up fast in the public eye, going out clubbing at 14, being surrounded by older men, and trying to act like an adult long before she was ready. She reflects on the pain of feeling unprotected, the shame she carried as a young woman, and how being put into care while already famous became one of the most frightening and defining experiences of her life. Davina and Amanda also explore the brutal reality of press intrusion, from paparazzi outside her school and care home to the tabloid body-shaming that eventually pushed her to leave the UK and start again in Los Angeles. Amanda speaks honestly about becoming a mother at 19, getting sober, breaking generational cycles, and why her daughter helped save her life. They also discuss Amanda’s work as a photographer, storyteller and advocate for women, including how her own experiences of postpartum depression, grief and shame led her to create spaces where women could speak openly about the things they had been taught to hide. At its heart, this is a conversation about survival, self-forgiveness, and reclaiming the parts of yourself that the world tried to define for you. Amanda de Cadenet reminds us that shame can only survive in silence, and that sometimes beginning again means finally telling the truth in your own words. 🌟 Like, comment, and subscribe for more honest conversations about identity, growth, and beginning again. Tap the bell to stay connected with new episodes of Begin Again. Follow us here: 📸 www.instagram.com/beginagain 🎥 https://www.tiktok.com/@beginagainpod ✨Follow Amanda de Cadenet: https://www.instagram.com/amandadecadenet/ ✨Sign up for the Begin Again newsletter for all your behind the scenes access, recommendations and much much more at: https://linkly.link/2g2xm (00:00) Intro (01:31) How Amanda And Davina First Met (02:16) Why Clubbing At 14 Changed Everything (03:32) How Absent Parents Shaped Amanda’s London Upbringing (08:48) What Happens When Vulnerability Meets Predatory Men (11:20) How Drugs And Alcohol Entered Amanda’s Life So Young (13:19) SexualAssault At 14 (14:54) Why Amanda Went Into Care After Being Arrested (26:23) How Amanda Began A Relationship With Duran Duran’s John Taylor (28:00) What Hosting The Word Really Meant For Amanda (32:31) Why Media Harassment Pushed Amanda To Leave The UK (35:15) How Atlanta Saved Amanda’s Life (36:53) What Getting Sober Finally Made Possible (38:23) How Amanda Started Over In America Without Fame (40:21) How Amanda Found Her Passion For Photography (44:31) When Amanda Photographed Keanu Reeves For Vogue (45:59) The Real Story Behind The Conversation With Demi Moore (53:31) How Grief Led Amanda To Become A Counselor (58:21) Amanda’s Advice For Processing Grief In A Healthy Way Sponsored by: Do Health - The waitlist is open. Begin Again listeners get fixed early access pricing when they sign up today at dohealth.co/beginagain use code BEGINAGAIN Saily - Download from the app store and use code DAVINA at the checkout for 15% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
Amanda de Cadenet became famous as a teenager, but behind the headlines was a young girl trying to survive. This is the story of the woman behind the image. In this episode of Begin Again, Amanda de Cadenet joins Davina to talk about fame, shame, care, motherhood, sobriety, recovery, and what it means to finally tell your own story. Amanda opens up about growing up fast in the public eye, going out clubbing at 14, being surrounded by older men, and trying to act like an adult long before she was ready. She reflects on the pain of feeling unprotected, the shame she carried as a young woman, and how being put into care while already famous became one of the most frightening and defining experiences of her life. Davina and Amanda also explore the brutal reality of press intrusion, from paparazzi outside her school and care home to the tabloid body-shaming that eventually pushed her to leave the UK and start again in Los Angeles. Amanda speaks honestly about becoming a mother at 19, getting sober, breaking generational cycles, and why her daughter helped save her life. They also discuss Amanda’s work as a photographer, storyteller and advocate for women, including how her own experiences of postpartum depression, grief and shame led her to create spaces where women could speak openly about the things they had been taught to hide. At its heart, this is a conversation about survival, self-forgiveness, and reclaiming the parts of yourself that the world tried to define for you. Amanda de Cadenet reminds us that shame can only survive in silence, and that sometimes beginning again means finally telling the truth in your own words. 🌟 Like, comment, and subscribe for more honest conversations about identity, growth, and beginning again. Tap the bell to stay connected with new episodes of Begin Again. Follow us here: 📸 www.instagram.com/beginagain 🎥 https://www.tiktok.com/@beginagainpod ✨Follow Amanda de Cadenet: https://www.instagram.com/amandadecadenet/ ✨Sign up for the Begin Again newsletter for all your behind the scenes access, recommendations and much much more at: https://linkly.link/2g2xm (00:00) Intro (01:31) How Amanda And Davina First Met (02:16) Why Clubbing At 14 Changed Everything (03:32) How Absent Parents Shaped Amanda’s London Upbringing (08:48) What Happens When Vulnerability Meets Predatory Men (11:20) How Drugs And Alcohol Entered Amanda’s Life So Young (13:19) SexualAssault At 14 (14:54) Why Amanda Went Into Care After Being Arrested (26:23) How Amanda Began A Relationship With Duran Duran’s John Taylor (28:00) What Hosting The Word Really Meant For Amanda (32:31) Why Media Harassment Pushed Amanda To Leave The UK (35:15) How Atlanta Saved Amanda’s Life (36:53) What Getting Sober Finally Made Possible (38:23) How Amanda Started Over In America Without Fame (40:21) How Amanda Found Her Passion For Photography (44:31) When Amanda Photographed Keanu Reeves For Vogue (45:59) The Real Story Behind The Conversation With Demi Moore (53:31) How Grief Led Amanda To Become A Counselor (58:21) Amanda’s Advice For Processing Grief In A Healthy Way Sponsored by: Do Health - The waitlist is open. Begin Again listeners get fixed early access pricing when they sign up today at dohealth.co/beginagain use code BEGINAGAIN Saily - Download from the app store and use code DAVINA at the checkout for 15% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Press Shamed Me So Much I Left The Country | Amanda de Cadenet
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