Bromley’s boxing legend Kellie Maloney, formerly Frank, opens up about her new life as a woman.

After undergoing a full sex-change operation, the promoter who propelled Lennox Lewis to the top now has different priorities in life.

Kellie, who announced her new identity last August, spoke to News Shopper from her home near Bromley North.

She said: “I was actually living as Kellie previous to coming out, I was attending a support group – they didn’t know who I was until the story broke.

“I’m lucky I’ve had my family around me. I was obviously very worried at first; I risked losing everything, my family and friends, my job, my respect.

“There’s part of me that wishes I had done it sooner, but then I might not have had my lovely daughters.”

Living with her two dogs Louie and Winnie, she praised the people of Bromley for their continued support.

News Shopper:

She said: “The people of Bromley are fantastic, I often get recognised and people just come up to talk to me.

“I feel very at home and very fortunate to live in Bromley. I love walking my dogs around Scadbury and Norman Park.

“I spoke to a sixth form and teachers at Bullers Wood School and I’ve been asked to speak at Ravensbourne. I very much enjoy going to speak at schools.”

After announcing her retirement from the world of boxing in 2013, she put her hat back in the ring and is continuing promoting with two fighters under her belt, and is in discussions with a heavyweight from Eltham.

Kellie, who has three daughters, said: “It was never my plan to go back into boxing. I gave in because Tony Jones turned up at my door.

“Obviously I want to do my best for him but I don’t have to work how I did when I was Frank Maloney when boxing was everything.

"I went through the terrible incident with Darren Sutherland and that changed me.”

She briefly dipped into politics after running for Mayor on a UKIP ticket in 2004, but angered some with comments made about gay and lesbian people.

Looking back, Kellie admitted: "Those comments I made in 2004, I realise now how offensive that was and how upsetting. I was wrong; people should be allowed to live their lives how they want."

MORE TOP STORIES Now living life fully as a woman, Kellie is releasing a book ‘Frankly Kellie’ telling the story of her journey.

She said: “As far as I’m concerned I’m a fully functional woman. You get people saying I’m not because I can’t give birth but I say they haven’t been through what I’ve been through.

“I get asked a lot about my sexuality and I say who I go to bed as is my gender, who I wake up with is my sexuality, and I’ve not woken up with anyone.

“I think I should just be seen as a human being. I had a medical condition in that when I was born my brain didn’t match my body, all I've done is correct that."

With other high-profile figures such as Caitlyn Jenner undergoing a sex-change, Kellie welcomed the discussions arising as a result.

Kellie, 61, added: “I think it’s good there’s more discussion, I’ve got friends who have changed and they’ve lived happy lives because no one knew.

“But for Caitlyn Jenner and myself, we will always be recognised.”

Frankly Kellie: Becoming a Woman in a Man’s World is out now, published by Blink. Kellie will be at WHSmiths in Bromley High Street next Thursday (July 9) for a book signing from 12-2pm.