Bollywood star and model ditched her breast implants, sex life and designer wardrobe for a new life as a NUN

FORMER actress and model Sofia Hayat, 42, lives in south-east London. She says:

"As I lay waiting for surgery to have my breast implants removed, I realised how far I’d come.

Just two years earlier, my life had been a whirlwind of red carpets and sexy dresses. But not any more.

Growing up in south London, I’d always loved to sing and perform, and when I was 26 I landed my dream job as a TV presenter on an Asian youth show.
I quickly became engulfed by the celebrity lifestyle of being pampered by stylists and make-up artists and wearing nice clothes.

I went to showbiz parties in London and began to get other TV work, including parts in Footballers’ Wives and Waterloo Road.

In 2009 I got a role in Bollywood movie The Unforgettable.

It meant dividing my time between the UK and Mumbai, where it was being filmed, but I didn’t mind.

I quickly became known on the celebrity circuit as the glamorous Brit in Bollywood, and loved giving funny, light-hearted interviews.

In India, stars don’t admit to any enhancements, so I never confessed to my 2010 boob job and the Botox sessions I had, but my down-to-earth personality was refreshing for Bollywood fans. 

For the next five years I continued acting and did modelling shoots, too, often earning £20,000 each time.

At home, my wardrobe was full of Gucci, Dior and Louboutin, and life revolved around champagne-fuelled parties.

I dated lots of men, too, including cricketer Rohit Sharma.
I thought I was in love with a few of them, but none of the relationships lasted.

While most of the time I loved this bubble, every so often I’d have a pang of unfulfilment – I felt like I was just existing, not really living.

I also knew how lucky I was, so never dwelled on it.

In the summer of 2014, I was at a London hotel and saw a healing session on the list of spa treatments.

It involved reiki, which is said to channel healing energies through the power of touch.

Feeling intrigued, I booked a session.

At first I was a little nervous, but as the therapist’s hands hovered over me, I felt a sense of inner peace I’d never experienced. It was so overwhelming.

I’d never paid much attention to spirituality before – but the more sessions I had, the more I found spiritual peace.

I started to question if there was another path out there for me and began studying reiki and meditation.

Then in July last year, my relationship ended because my sexual desire had faded. I decided to become celibate.

I hadn’t felt any real physical desire for anyone, so I felt it was a sign for me to give up sex.

In April this year, I had my breast implants removed so I could return to being the real me.

I also swapped my designer wardrobe for cotton dresses and yoga clothes.

It’s a massive transition, but thankfully all my friends are hugely supportive.

Sadly, my relationship with my mum hasn’t been great since I became famous, but I’m now hoping we can get to know each other again.

I’m not affiliated with any specific church, but I consider myself a nun and go by the name of Gaia Mother Sofia.

My life is now dedicated to helping others.

I meditate for five hours a day, give healing sessions and regularly visit a girls’ orphanage in India to offer support.

I mainly live off my savings and while I don’t like to charge, people pay for their healing sessions as they know I have living expenses.

When I look at photos of the old me I still smile, as my previous life was so wonderful. But I love this one more."

BTW

• Reiki – pronounced “ray-key”, Japanese for “universal life energy” – is a form of alternative medicine developed by Buddist Mikao Usui.
• Martina Purdy, a BBC Northern Ireland political reporter, quit her career to become a nun in 2014.