Kellie Maloney: What lesson has mattered most in your life? — FLAPSS

The question

What lesson has mattered most in your life?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

Verbatim recurring item in The Guardian Q&A; two fully readable publisher-hosted respondent pages establish institutional recurrence.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

KM

Kellie Maloney

Retired boxing manager, promoter and politician

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Choose your friends wisely.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 August 2024 source ↗

Others on this question

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To keep trying to listen to yourself.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 16 May 2026 source ↗

Do the secret thing you know you were born to do.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 June 2025 source ↗

Sharon Corr Musical artist

Trust my instincts.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 June 2023 source ↗

Sofia Coppola American filmmaker and actress

To follow your path and not worry about what to do too much; one thing leads to the next, and you wind up where you’re meant to be.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 March 2023 source ↗

More from Kellie Maloney

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Question Who alive today do you admire most, and what draws you to them? Values & belief

The pope. I was brought up in the Catholic religion, and I think he is trying to make the church more accepting of all. He’s got a very hard job because the church is very stuck in its rightwing conservative ways.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 August 2024 source ↗

Question What do you fear most? Identity & self

Losing my family.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 August 2024 source ↗

Question How would you describe what love feels like to you? Relationships

Love comes in different aspects. There’s sexual love, companion love and unconditional love, and I think you only have unconditional love with your children or your pets.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 August 2024 source ↗

Question When were you most embarrassed? Failure & regret

In my early days of transitioning, I used to come to London and meet for a drink with a group going through the same thing. I used to wear a full wig, and one night I’d drunk too much and fell asleep on the train, and my wig slipped off.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 August 2024 source ↗

Question What disappointment has stayed with you longest? Failure & regret

Not being truthful to everyone from an earlier age.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 August 2024 source ↗

Question What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy? Time & hindsight

At the birth of my children; when Lennox Lewis was crowned undisputed world heavyweight champion; and the day I had my final gender reassignment operation.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 August 2024 source ↗

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