A mum who went viral when she fell flat on her face during a parents’ race at her daughter’s sports day, exposing her bum, said she still receives “20 messages a day” from admirers.
Katie Hannaford, 38, from Basildon, Essex, enjoyed a brief period of fame after a clip of her tripping and flashing her bum to the crowd during a sports day race caused an internet storm in June 2022.
The mother-of-two was persuaded to join the race by her youngest daughter but blushed when she tripped and her dress flew over her head, exposing her underwear.
After the ordeal, Katie vowed to never enter a parent’s race again – a stance her daughters Tegan, 17, and Beau, 10, are grateful for.
However, Katie revealed that two years on from the race, people haven’t forgotten her and she still receives “at least 20 messages” every day from people following the video.
Katie Hannaford (pictured), 38, from Basildon, Essex, who went viral after tripping and revealing her underwear during a sports day run, said she still receives messages from admirers.
The mother of two is also recognised when she is out and about and asked if she is “the mum who fell on sports day”. Katie was even recognised when she was on holiday in Turkey.
The mother of two, who owns a home decor business, said: “It’s amazing how many messages I get from all over the world.”
She continued: ‘Men from Brazil seem to love me, as do those from Cape Verde, the United States and Canada.
‘They all seem to be real, genuine people: sometimes they ask me if that’s me in that video, sometimes they call me beautiful.
‘I still get asked if I have an OnlyFans too… the answer is absolutely no. I get recognised in person too. I was once recognised while on holiday in Turkey.
‘The girls found it funny and still talk about the video all the time, but they agreed they would never let me do another race after the last time.’
She said the messages are from fans around the world, who often praise her and ask her out.
The single mother of two never takes up the offers, but says she finds it funny that people still remember her.
The mother-of-two tripped and fell during the race, revealing her underwear to the sports day crowd.
Katie was convinced to join the sports day race by her youngest daughter, Beau, aged 10 (pictured left).
Despite millions of people around the world watching the video of her exposed backside, Katie said she never felt ashamed and has no regrets.
Instead, she believes this ordeal has had “a real positive impact” on her to this day.
She said: ‘I didn’t used to do races with my youngest son because I really struggled with my confidence.
“But I did it this year and the video went viral, and it really gave me a huge confidence boost.
“It made me realize that it doesn’t matter if people laugh or if you make a fool of yourself, so what? You’re just making memories.
‘I still laugh at that video every time it comes up in my memories and my daughters still talk about it all the time.
‘It reaffirmed my confidence. Since that video I learned that it’s okay to go with the flow no matter what people think.’
Katie said it has been a hit around the world, with fans from Brazil and the United States approaching her.
The mother, who lives in Essex, said the ordeal has given her a confidence boost and encouraged her not to take life too seriously.
The 38-year-old took part in the parent race on her daughter’s sports day two years ago, in June 2022.
Speaking to LAD Bible At the time, Katie spoke out about the viral moment and revealed that she is now banned from participating in parent races “ever again.”
“I promised my daughters that I would never participate in a ‘parents’ race’ again,” the mother revealed.
“There was a parents’ dance at my daughter’s dance competition recently. They announced it, the girls looked at me and said, ‘No, Mom.’ I agreed not to go!”
Katie also spoke about her daughter’s reaction to the fall, revealing: “She thought it was funny. She said everyone was talking about it at school, but it was really funny.”
Days after the video went viral, Katie revealed she had received 500 messages from suitors around the world and that she and her children were being recognised in her local town, at her Tesco and online.
After coming to terms with the fact that her butt became a sensation, Katie admitted that Mirror that she was absorbing the attention.
“I’ve received thousands of messages, at least 500 of them from men from Greece to Puerto Rico, Germany and even Australia, asking me ‘How are you single?’ and calling me ‘MILF,'” Katie said.
The mother of two added that she received heartwarming messages, including one telling her the video was the first thing that made them smile for the first time in half a year.
The mother of two has told her daughters, including Beau (pictured), that she will not race again.
Parents joined the Essex Sports Day race for a bit of fun in June 2022 – and others filmed it.
Other parents rushed forward to help the mother of two after she tripped and fell on the grassy track.
Katie, who called herself “clumsy”, admitted she also received malicious messages but said they were unable to reach her.
The 38-year-old added that she had no intention of becoming famous and that this just happened to her.
Kate said most people called her a good sport and an “amazing mother” after the moment.
“Everyone’s seen my butt, but it is what it is, I can’t hide from it. I don’t care,” she said.
Katie also recalled: ‘I’m not sporty at all, but (my daughter) was begging me all the time. In the end I agreed to take part in the race, I knew I would come last.
“I just tripped over my own feet. I think my body was moving too fast for my legs. I’m so clumsy that I always fall.”
“I felt humiliated at the time, but it is what it is. I flashed my underwear, which is obviously embarrassing, but you just have to accept it. Looking back, it’s hilarious. Definitely the funniest thing I’ve ever done in my life!”
