‘I do believe it has shaped me to be the woman that I am’: Loose Women’s Brenda Edwards breaks down as she reflects on the tragic death of her parents when she was four
Brenda Edwards choked up on Monday afternoon as she paid tribute to the ‘strong women’ who raised her following the death of her parents.
The Loose Women panelist, 51, struggled to contain her emotions as she reflected on being raised by her grandmother and two aunts after tragically losing her mother and father in a car accident at the age of four.
Appearing on the latest instalment of the show, she admitted the tragedy, which occurred just three days before Christmas in 1974, and her subsequent upbringing made her who she is.
Emotional: Brenda Edwards choked up on Monday afternoon as she paid tribute to the ‘strong women’ who raised her following the death of her parents
She said: ‘I lost my mum and dad when I was four, but I do believe that has shaped me to be the woman that I am. I am someone who’s been raised to appreciate life and appreciate what you have and live life to the fullest.
‘So many people say “You’re always laughing, you’re always smiling”, and that’s because there’s been so much upset in my life from the age of four, if you don’t laugh you’re gonna cry all the time.
‘So I try and pick myself up, brush my shoulders off and I always try to move on.’
Devastating: Brenda’s parents (pictured) were tragically killed in a car accident just three days before Christmas 1974, when the presenter was four years old
Determined: Brenda admitted the tragedy and her subsequent upbringing instilled in her an overwhelming desire to live in the moment
The former X Factor contestant touched on her childhood after a reference to incumbent US Vice President Kamala Harris led to a discussion about strong, inspirational women and parenthood.
And she admitted to being ‘proud’ that her bubbly, outgoing personality had been shaped by three strong females after experiencing bereavement at such a young age.
She added: ‘My grandmother and my aunty Betty – my aunty Betty, she’s got that bubby personality – my grandmother, she’s the domesticated one and my aunty Pam, she’s a tour de force, she’s a very strong lady, and I’ve got a bit of all of them. I’m very proud to have that.’
Let’s talk: The presenter reflected on her childhood while appearing as a panelist on Monday’s edition of daytime chat show Loose Women
Battling to contain her emotions, Brenda also revealed she still struggles to cope with their loss of her parents, particularly when other family members tell her she shares certain characteristics.
She said: ‘A lot of people speak to me, I’ll do something and they’ll say “You’re just like your mother.”
‘That’s nice to hear but sometimes it’s hard to hear because I don’t know what that bit was like. I have a picture that I can look at and I have memories.
‘I always think if mum was here I know she’d be proud of her grandchildren as well.’
Moving: Battling to contain her emotions, Brenda admitted she still struggled to cope with their loss of her parents