KATIE Piper has revealed her shock friendship with Madonna after the pair hit it off on Instagram.

Presenter Katie, 40, heaped praise on her “role model” as she explained how they stay in touch with emojis on social media.

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Katie Piper has revealed her shock friendship with MadonnaCredit: Rex

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Katie explained how they stay in touch with emojis on social mediaCredit: Getty
Speaking exclusively with The Sun after it was noticed they follow each other, she said: “Yeah, it’s funny. She followed me first and I was like, ‘Oh!’ because I really love Madonna.

“I really like the way that she lives her life. I find her… she’s unapologetic, she’s authentic so she’s a female role model to me.

“So, yeah we follow each other online, we look at each other’s Stories, send each other emojis. It’s an unexpected online friendship, isn’t it?”

Katie – whose new children’s book, Together We Are Stronger, is out now – added: “Not actually DMs but we react to each other’s Stories, that kind of thing.

“But I think she’s a very powerful woman so she’s a big role model to women, I think.”

Katie spoke with us to announce her brand new ambassador role for an online safety campaign.

The activist was spurred on to team up with Virgin Media O2 and Internet Matters for Find the Right Words after her daughter was approached by a stranger online.

She explained how the adult had impersonated a child YouTuber and congratulated her score via a chat facility in a game.

But, once they started chatting, it became apparent that all was not as it seemed.

Who is Katie Piper and what does she do?
The campaign is backed by leading charities Action for Children and Good Things Foundation, with brand new guides for families and a powerful film highlighting the difficulties parents can face in explaining online risks, watch here.

Katie said: “It gives you advice and sort of language and tone on how to approach this conversation with your kids.

“And then the other guide, which me and my husband really need, is very practical. It’s all about the parental controls, the privacy settings and all the different limitations that you can implement.

“I actually think that’s the barrier for a lot of parents. They don’t know how to sit down and have this conversation with their child, which is why this guide is so brilliant.”

Find out more about the campaign and access free guides on how to talk to kids about online safety, and about the parental controls available, via www.findtherightwords.uk.

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Katie is fronting a new online safety campaign with Virgin Media O2 and Internet MattersCredit: Supplied