Most lottery winners tend to be forgotten by the public shortly after the initial excitement of their big victory vanishes, but rare few manage to become local celebrities who are attracting attention with everything they do. It seems like Hull resident Melissa Ede will be one of them since she made the headlines more than once after claiming her £4.000.000 lottery windfall at the beginning of January.
The transgender woman had full gender reallignment surgery in 2011, and said she experienced many hardships after embracing her true identity. Her parents, who both passed away recently, hadn’t spoken to her since she “became Melissa”, while her kids disowned her and changed their surnames.
“I know we should all love our children unconditionally but they cut me out of their lives. They weren’t there during my hardest times and rejected me. I still love them but I don’t want false love off them because I’ve got money now,” said Ede after collecting the prize money.
Several media outlets reported that the winner “snubbed” her children after winning £4.000.000, but Ede hit back at those claims by saying she’d be willing to help them if they walked back into her life because they want to see their parent again, and not because of the money. Two of her children stated they would never ask for anything, with her son claiming they’re embarrassed by the bizarre videos Melissa posts online and not by the fact she’s transgender.
Even before becoming a millionaire, Ms. Ede was famous for posting online videos of herself singing and dancing in revealing outfits, which have received millions of views. Thanks to the £4.000.000 lotto victory, she was able to quit her job after 25 years of working as a taxi driver. The list of her plans for the future includes moving into a home of her own, having a dream wedding with her fiancée Rachel Nelson and writing an autobiography.