Keira Maguire breaks down over cult upbringing

Keira Maguire from this season of The Bachelor has opened up about her polygamist cult upbringing in an interview with Carrie Bickmore on The Project.

"I didn’t know who my mum was until I was five," the 29-year-old said tearfully.

"It sounds strange, but it just is what it is. I didn't even have birthdays. I think I had my first birthday when I was seven. For other people, it might be really sad. But it's not, because it's my story."

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Earlier this week Woman's Day magazine revealed that Keira was raised in a polygamist cult that was started by her father Alistah Laishkochav in the 70s.

The publication also claimed the star grew up with 63 siblings and nine mothers and had limited contact with the outside world. Laishkochav allegedly "believed he was Jesus" and married nine women in 1974.

Keira was born in Bells Beach, Victoria, but escaped the cult with her mother when she was five years old.

"I just couldn’t believe that they wrote a story without coming to me and asking if it was OK," the reality star said.

"I kind of knew that I was different. I didn’t want to tell people because I didn’t want to be judged... I just, even in relationships with guys, ... I never opened up about it because I didn’t want them to judge me, because I’m not normal."

"I remember just being like five-years-old going, ‘Nup, you’ve got this. You control your future’. And I feel like, yes, it has affected the way that I think and the way that I am, but only for good reasons."

Keira released a statement to Be earlier this week after news broke of her cult upbringing

"I am not in a position to comment on Alistah Laishkochav [her biological father and the creator of the cult].

"My mother removed my family from that environment when I was five years old, over 25 years ago. I was brought up by my mother and grandmother in Brisbane in a loving, caring and compassionate household.

She wrote: "I had a wonderful childhood and I am extremely grateful to both my mother and grandmother for the upbringing which they provided me and my siblings.

"Although I have since met and reunited with my family, I have never had a relationship with Alistah Laishkochav. Alistah Laishkochav is not relevant to who I am nor does he define me."

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