You can endure more than you think As each day passed after what happened [Piper had sulphuric acid thrown in her face in 2008, leading to the loss of her eyelids, most of her nose and part of one ear], I began to realise that I was bigger than the problem; positivity in particular helped me get to a better place psychologically.

Affirmations helped I started writing positive thoughts on Post-it notes and put them throughout my house. I wrote a little note on my bathroom mirror saying "You're beautiful", so I'd see it when cleaning my teeth each morning. I didn't feel beautiful, but I kept filling my head with those thoughts and it helped with my confidence.

My burns reconstruction surgeon, Mr Jawad, is an inspiration We still speak three to four times a week. He could live the comfortable life and go off on relaxing holidays, but instead he goes over to Pakistan on his time off, helping burns victims in the villages there and literally giving women their smiles back.

Why not say positive things out loud to yourself? I think the British people pride themselves on being self-deprecating and having a stiff upper lip, but by saying things out loud you're more likely to gain confidence and actually believe it; fake it till you make it.

Britain has become more progressive Just look at all those sell-outs at the Paralympics park, and all those events filled with amazing sportsmen and women. In the past doctors would have said, "You'll never do X, Y and Z again," but attitudes have changed and now so many of these athletes have gone beyond those [limitations] and achieved what most of us can't even do.

I eat chocolate for dinner instead of making food I often come home late from work and I can't be bothered to cook, so I'll just eat a whole Dairy Milk chocolate bar. Not very healthy, is it?

Everyone's always in a rush in London It's why there's so much road rage and I find it really annoying; people are always changing lanes, no one lets you in and people always cut you up. I drive quite slowly, so people who get in my car are always saying, "Gosh you're slow!"

My best is always my best in high heels What I do now challenges the perceptions that people have to fit stereotypes of visible difference; they might still enjoy fashion and going out and they can have a full life. I'm running a charity now [the Katie Piper Foundation] to help empower people with visible differences and rehabilitate them into the community. 1

Katie Piper, 28, is a former model who is now a TV presenter and charity campaigner. Her latest book, 'Start Your Day with Katie: 365 Affirmations for a Year of Positive Thinking' is published by Quercus and priced £9.99. For more about her charity, visit katiepiperfoundation.org.uk