Growing up, Cherri Lee thought Kim Kardashian was the most beautiful woman in the world. In fact, the 28-year-old loved the superstar so much, she decided to become her. Cherri has so far spent an eye-watering £50,000 in a bid to look like Kim K – but says it's been worth every penny.
Cherri, whose South Korean name is Hanbyeol, had her first surgery at the age of just 20, a procedure on her eyes to give her double eyelids. She soon went on to have several other surgeries to get the perfect Kardashian face and hourglass figure – totalling 15 procedures in eight years.
Her cosmetic surgeries have included three Brazilian butt lifts and two breast augmentations as well as countless facial surgeries. Cherri says people now stop and stare at her in public – something she says has given her a major confidence boost.
"I didn't see myself coming this far, but I got addicted to surgeries,” she says. “Every time I went under the knife, I saw a positive change and I loved it.
"I always wanted the glamorous big boobs and big bum Kardashian look. Kim has always been an inspiration to me and she's the most beautiful woman in the world in my eyes.
"I actually look like a completely different person now to before - I look Western, and some of my Korean family don't even recognise me anymore. I know when to stop and I'm not planning any more surgeries now - I have achieved the look I always wanted. I don't regret a single procedure and I'd do it all again the same - my only regret is why didn't I do it sooner!"
Cherri, a part-time English teacher, had her first surgery – eyelid surgery – in 2014 following a tough break-up. Following the procedure, she quickly caught the bug after seeing the changes she hoped for and began planning her next move. In 2016, she had her first boob job in Seoul before another eye surgery the following year.
She added: "After the breakup, my confidence was at rock-bottom. I always wanted the glamorous Kardashian look with the big bum and hourglass figure.
"My ex didn't want me back after the first surgery, but every time I went under the knife I would see positive change, and I quickly got addicted."
Between 2019 and 2021, Cherri had three Brazilian butt lifts to get Kim's world-famous behind – but it still wasn’t big enough for her liking.
Between those years she also had a nose job, cheekbone surgery, a double chin reduction and two rounds of buccal fat removal, which thins the cheeks.
Cherri, who is currently single and living in South Korea, says she has been able to afford the surgeries thanks to help from her parents. But she has admitted she feels she has now achieved her goal, and hasn't been under the knife since her last buccal fat removal, which she had in Greece last year.
"I'm not planning any more surgeries now, I know when to stop,” she continued. “I was addicted before. I would get a buzz when I would wake up in excruciating pain and then see myself afterwards and it would be my reward. I'm so grateful that not one procedure I had done went wrong, because I know that can happen."
Cherri now has 1050cc implants in each breast - making her a 34GGG cup size – and has admitted even some members of her own family didn't recognise her at first. Others mistake her for Kim K from behind - leaving her feeling better than ever.
She said: "I don't think my facial features look like Kim K but the overall vibe is her. I do get people commenting from behind, thinking I can't hear them asking each other if I'm Kim. I get people saying I should be her body double."
Cherri says she gets lots of different reactions from people when out in public, too. "I love it when people stop and give me compliments," she said. "But I hate it when guys ask for my number.
"That happened a few times when I was in London - it offends me when they think they stand a chance! Since seeing my transformation, my ex has been back in touch and said he wants me now - but I'm too good for him now and I'm getting a higher calibre of men approaching me.
"I have had a few negative reactions as well. Once a middle-aged lady looked at me and asked how much I charge per hour, suggesting I was a sex worker. I was out in public wearing a summer dress - it was plain rude.
"But I don't let it affect me. If you have nothing nice to say, jog on. Everybody should have the right to modify their body - do what you want, as long as you're not harming anyone."
She described her decision to have her surgeries - which many might question - as the best decision she ever made. Cherri said: "Now, I have a bigger pool of men approaching me.
"I've always been an attention seeker - it makes me feel sexy. I like random people giving me compliments.
"I think Kim is the most beautiful woman in my eyes and to be compared to her is amazing. My confidence is through the roof, I'm so much happier now than when I was younger. It was 100 per cent worth it. My only regret is 'why didn't I do it sooner?'"
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