After newspaper pics appeared of Bryan Westlife and Kerry Kitten together, they decided to clear a few things up, exlusively, in Smash Hits

Kerry on Bryan
-> I am going out with Bryan. I have been since last November, when we got together on the Smash Hits Tour. Some of the fans knew about it, the ones who'd seen us together at the airport, but publicly we didn't want everyone to know because it was just about me and him. The fans who know have been dead good about it, they've supported us 100%. The reason we didn't let on was because we knew that was all we'd get asked about. Now, every question we get asked is about "Bryan and Kerry".

I do enjoy talking about him, though. He's funny, he's romantic, he makes me feel dead good, he's like my knight in shinning armour. When I'm with him, I feel like nothing can ever go wrong. If I'm sad, I can call h im and he'll cheer me up.

He's normally happy-go-lucky, but he's very sensitive about his looks and his weight. When he was younger, he got a lot of stick for being overweight, so now he's always asking, "Why are you with me? Why are you with me?" It's not because he's in Westlife. I wouldn't have met him if I hadn't been in this band, and he wouldn't have met me - that's a fact - but the first time I met him, I wasn't interested. To tell you the truth, I like (old rockers) Rod Stewart and Dr Hook, Natasha is the Westlife fan in the group. I said, "Just 'cos you're in a boyband, don't come near me!" But he actually sat and listened to me without chatting me up. He's special and I don't want to let go of him. (Whispers) He's really special.

I'm really sorry if Westlife fans are upset, but I'm only human, and I can't help who I fall in love with. I'm just like them, when I go home at night, I want someone to call, and I want someone to say hello and hold me when I'm sad. Bryan's that person.

The Westlife fans are wicked! When Bryan took me out for my birthday, they were outside the hotel and they were all dead nice. I like Westlife's music too, it's real.

I don't think many fans'll be bothered. Unfortunately, I've got my own hate club on the internet. There are only 25 people out of 220.000 who don't like me, but these 25 people really upset me, (looks sad). I am the most paranoid, selfconscious, sensitive person.

We played a gig in front of 40.000 people in south east Asia and it was after topless pics of me had appearded in the papers and I couldn't enjoy the gig because I was thinking, "They've all seen my breasts!" When the Bryan stuff came out, I thought, "Can my life get any worse?" I've not done it intentionally. People are going to judge me by those pictures but I was 16, living on my own and I needed the money.

I'm not taking Bryan away from anybody. He's changed my life, he's changed me s a person and he means so much to me. If I told Bryan's fans to take down their posters of him, it would kill them. But if they told me to stop seeing him, it would kill me. So let's share him.

Bryan on Kerry

-> It's true. Kerry and I are going out, and we have been for about a year. She's the most important person in my life, and she's the best thing ever to happen to me.

First of all, I'd never told anyone, the rest of the guys in the band didn't even know. Kerry and I wanted to keep our personal lives personal. We were seen out a few times, but we said we were just friends because we didn't want people prying in our lives.

I honestly don't think that many Westlife fans will be angry with her, probably beause there aren't that many of them who fancy me 'cos I'm only an 83%er. (See Star News)

Seriously, though, my fans should be happy because I'm happy. But I've not been very happy for the past two-and-a-half years because I've been away from home, and Kerry's done her best to put a smile on my face 24 hours a day. I think the fast respect that. They see us both happy and I hope that they respect that. All the fans who know about our relationship are all really cool.

They are all dying to meet Kerry, and they give me cards and letters to pass on to her.

To the fans, I'd say I wouldn't respect any fans who'd diss Atomic Kitten. Why would any fan diss them if I'm happy?

I know I've been linked with other stars but that bugs me - and it bugs Kerry as well. There's never a question of either of us cheating on each other, she's such a big part of my life. We talk on the phone a lot. I fell in love with her the first time I met her. (Grins) I like Atomic Kitten's records, too.

At first, Kerry didn't know who Westlife were, and it took a while to get her to go out with me. Our realtionship is the most important thing in my life.

I visit her parents when she's not there and she stays at my house when I'm not there. She's been out with my mum and dad, and she knows my family.

I'm her best friend and she's my best friend. We're very, very close - though we're obviously too young to get married.

Both of us wanted to tell the fans for a long time. It didn't feel right lying to them. When the pictures appeared in the papers, I wanted to tell the truth. I hope they understand.

BRYAN & KERRY
What's happened?

November 1999 Atomic Kitten burst into Top Ten with Right Now.
December 1999 Bryan and Kerry get together when they met on the Smash Hits Tour.
January 2000 Papers reveal they are an item. "She's a brilliant girl and we get on," Bryan says.
February 2000 Papers report, falsely, that they have split up.
July 2000 Old pics of Kerry, modelling topless before she was in the band, are printed.
September 2000 Tabloids print pics of Bryan and Kerry on holiday in Gran Canaria.

[Quelle: Smash Hits]
Thanx 2 Franzi