Jo O'Meara is "still trying to rebuild' her career after her controversial appearance on 'Celebrity Big Brother'.
Jo O'Meara
The former S Club 7 singer - who will release her first album in 16 years this week - appeared on the then-Channel 4 reality show in 2007 and was accused of racially bullying fellow housemate Shilpa Shetty.
She told the Metro newspaper's 60 Seconds column: "All I can do is apologise and let people know I've grown up a lot. I'm a very different person today.
"I lost my career, my home, everything and I'm still trying to rebuild today. That's why I feel so fortunate that I'm able to be back doing what I love in the studio.
"I had to chase my dreams and I'm glad I did because I can honestly say for the first time in I can't even remember how many years that I'm happy."
Jo - whose upcoming solo record 'With Love' is her first since 2005 debut 'Relentless' - admitted she regrets going onto the reality show, and she did it "for the wrong reasons".
She added: "I probably should have never gone in there in the first place. I went in there for the wrong reasons.
"I am so sorry to everybody that I offended because I never meant to hurt anybody."
Meanwhile, the 42-year-old star also revealed how much she's grown since bursting onto the scene with S Club 7 back in 1999.
She said: "It just didn't stop. I've finally learned to accept who I am.
"I was very insecure in the band because I feel like the one that was there to sing. I've discovered what I want to do musically and all my insecurities are melting away."
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