Kellie Maloney reveals how daughter's heartbreaking words saved her after a suicide attempt and admits if she hadn't transitioned 'I wouldn't be here today'

Kellie Maloney has spoken out on how her transition in 2014 has affected her loved ones.

Kellie, 71, was previously known as Frank and enjoyed a successful career as a boxing promoter alongside two marriages and raising three daughters - Emma, 48, Sophie, 28, and Libby, 23.

But despite appearances, Kellie was living a lie, admitting in a new interview with The Express, that her transition had 'nothing to do with bravery. It was a necessity, plain and simple. If I hadn't done what I did, I honestly don't think I'd be here today.'

Whilst she has has been living openly as a woman for ten years, Kellie has experienced suicidal thoughts over the past decade and is aware the impact the transition has had on her family.  

Speaking about the day she broke down and told her second wife Tracey about her feelings of being a woman trapped in a man’s body, Kellie recalls that her wife 'had had no idea the agony I was going through. It must have been a terrible shock for her.'

'As she said, 'I married a guy who really cared for me; I didn't marry another woman.' If I could have taken a pill to stay as Frank, we'd still be together today.'

Tracey has remained a supportive friend to Kellie despite their divorce and one Christmas not long after their split she was invited by her ex to stay. 

Admitting she was in agony 'living a double life' as she had yet to come out publicly, Kellie attempted suicide during the visit. 

After refusing help from paramedics and getting into a row with Tracy, Kellie drove to her oldest daughter Emma's house, where she was discovered slumped over the steering wheel.

Kellie has explained how Emma walked with her all night until she sobered up before confronting her with some heartbreaking words the next morning.

Kellie came out to Emma who told her 'I don't know what that means. But what I do know is I'd prefer my dad in a frock than a wooden box.'

During a recent appearance on Good Morning Britain, Kellie gushed that her relationship with her daughters is stronger than ever.

'They're rock solid and probably better than they've ever been. I still think it affects them in a way, but they don't show it. We get through life by joking,' she explained.

The star, who has appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity Masterchef in recent years, has now released a documentary about her life called Knockout Blonde. 

Speaking previously about the 'nuts and bolts' film which has received rave reviews, she has explained: 'The documentary was in the works for about three years, I had several offers from different companies but went with the Americans because they gave me a bit of a free hand in the production.

'I wanted it to be all nuts and bolts and show that it isn't just about my journey, it's about the people in my life and how they were upset and I might have destroyed their lives. It was very emotional.

'I wanted it to be very educational. For people to see that transexual women are just normal human beings and they just want to lead a normal life.'

Knock Out Blonde: The Kellie Maloney Story, is available to stream now.