Cleo Smith’s mother Ellie Smith has surfaced on national television looking almost unrecognisable over two years after her daughter’s abduction ordeal.
Cleo, then four, made international headlines when she was snatched from a tent on October 16, 2021, as she slept with her mother, stepfather and baby sister at the Blowholes campsite, near Carnarvon, about 960km north of Perth.
The little girl was held captive by Terence Darrell Kelly, 37, and locked alone in a bedroom at his home for 18 days before Western Australia Police rescued her in a late night raid.
Since then Ms Smith has undergone quite the makeover, debuting a slimmer physique and a head of bleach-blonde hair in recent months.
Viewers could barely recognise Ms Smith as she resurfaced on Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes with fiancé Jake Gliddon for an exclusive interview on 14 May.
![Ms Smith is pictured on Channel Nine's 60 Minutes, 14 May 2023](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/22/02/71250913-12109351-image-m-77_1684719546946.jpg)
Cleo Smith’s mother Ellie Smith has surfaced on national television looking almost unrecognisable over two years after her daughter’s abduction ordeal. Ms Smith is pictured left on 60 Minutes in February 2022, and right on 60 Minutes again on 14 May 2023
![Cleo (pictured), then four, made international headlines when she was snatched from a tent on October 16, 2021, as she slept with her mother, stepfather and baby sister at the Blowholes campsite, near Carnarvon, about 960km north of Perth](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/22/02/70760467-12109351-Cleo_Smith_pictured_still_has_nightmares_18_months_after_she_was-a-87_1684719822816.jpg)
Cleo (pictured), then four, made international headlines when she was snatched from a tent on October 16, 2021, as she slept with her mother, stepfather and baby sister at the Blowholes campsite, near Carnarvon, about 960km north of Perth
With her thick, blonde locks tumbling down her shoulders, contoured makeup and bronze spray tan, the former brunette looked decidedly different to the last time she appeared on 60 Minutes in February 2022.
Ms Smith and her partner were reportedly paid $2million to sit down with 60 Minutes host Tara Brown last February for the world exclusive television interview.
The exorbitant cost of the sit-down, which was filmed over video chat due to Covid lockdowns, sparked criticism from industry insiders.
![The former brunette looked decidedly different to the last time she appeared on 60 Minutes in February 2022. Ms Smith is pictured on 60 Minutes in February 2022](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/22/03/71251623-12109351-The_former_brunette_looked_decidedly_different_to_the_last_time_-a-52_1684723542890.jpg)
![Ms Smith is pictured on Channel Nine's 60 Minutes, 14 May 2023](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/22/03/71250915-12109351-Ms_Smith_is_pictured_on_Channel_Nine_s_60_Minutes_14_May_2023-a-51_1684723542786.jpg)
With her thick, blonde locks tumbling down her shoulders, contoured makeup and bronze spray tan, the former brunette looked decidedly different to the last time she appeared on 60 Minutes in February 2022. Ms Smith is pictured left on 60 Minutes in February 2022, and right on 60 Minutes again on 14 May 2023
‘This kind of money could employ not only dozens of journalists but is also enough to run multiple programs,’ one senior television executive told The Australian at the time.
At the time, Pearman Media director of strategy and research Steve Allen told News Corp he was shocked at the interview’s steep price.
‘For the family at the reported amount, even under the distressing circumstances, they are now rich beyond their wildest dreams,’ he said.
![The little girl was held captive by Terence Darrell Kelly, 37, and locked alone in a bedroom at his home for 18 days before Western Australia Police rescued her in a late night raid. Pictured is Ms Smith and Cleo after her rescue on 9 November 2011](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/22/02/53855085-12109351-Ms_Smith_opened_up_on_Cleo_s_recovery_revealed_the_family_s_futu-a-89_1684720099603.jpg)
The little girl was held captive by Terence Darrell Kelly, 37, and locked alone in a bedroom at his home for 18 days before Western Australia Police rescued her in a late night raid. Pictured is Ms Smith and Cleo after her rescue on 9 November 2011
![Ms Smith (left) and stepdad Jake Gliddon (right) were at District Court of WA in Perth on April 5 2023 for the sentencing for the man who abducted their little girl](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/22/03/69493189-12109351-Ms_Smith_left_and_stepdad_Jake_Gliddon_right_were_at_District_Co-a-50_1684723542391.jpg)
Ms Smith (left) and stepdad Jake Gliddon (right) were at District Court of WA in Perth on April 5 2023 for the sentencing for the man who abducted their little girl
‘There must have been more than one media outlet chasing this exclusive to go that high. [It] must have been fierce competition.’
Ms Smith and her partner Mr Gliddon returned to 60 Minutes on Sunday for a follow-up interview, one month after Kelly was jailed for 13 and a half years after pleading guilty to the abduction.
During the latest 60 Minutes interview, Ms Smith’s panicked call to triple-0 and police bodycam of the distressed mum in tears after officers arrived at the remote campsite was aired for the first time.
On April 5, Kelly was jailed for more than 10 years after pleading guilty to the abduction.
Ms Smith and Mr Gliddon made a surprise appearance at Kelly’s sentencing in the District Court of WA.
Sentencing judge Julie Wager described the fear, distress and trauma caused to Cleo and her parents as ‘immeasurable’.
![Sentencing judge Julie Wager described the fear, distress and trauma caused to Cleo and her parents as 'immeasurable'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/22/02/70843917-12109351-image-a-59_1684719129097.jpg)
Sentencing judge Julie Wager described the fear, distress and trauma caused to Cleo and her parents as ‘immeasurable’
‘Eighteen days without contact or explanation, and with hours totally on her own and no access to the outside world, would have been very traumatic,’ the judge said.
Kelly’s legal team have since lodged an appeal over the lengthy sentence handed down to him after he admitted forcibly detaining a child under the age of 16 in January 2022.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) meanwhile confirmed that it would not be appealing the sentence seeking an increase saying it was not ‘inadequate’.
![Terence Darrell Kelly (pictured during his arrest) was last month jailed for more than 10 years but his lawyers are appealing the sentence length](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/22/02/70760263-12109351-Terence_Darrell_Kelly_37_was_last_month_jailed_for_more_than_10_-a-61_1684719148885.jpg)
Terence Darrell Kelly (pictured during his arrest) was last month jailed for more than 10 years but his lawyers are appealing the sentence length
The dramatic rescue of Cleo was captured by an officer’s body-worn camera and was beamed around the world.
Police Commissioner Col Blanch said the strength of the evidence against Kelly had likely influenced his early guilty plea.
‘For me as commissioner, this is No.1 – this is the greatest story in Western Australian policing history,’ he told reporters.
![Police launched a major investigation after Cleo's mother awoke to find the girl missing from the family's tent at the Blowholes campsite, north of Carnarvon. Ms Smith and Mr Gliddon are pictured on Channel Seven's Flashpoint before Cleo was found](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/22/02/71252013-12109351-image-a-92_1684720678653.jpg)
Police launched a major investigation after Cleo’s mother awoke to find the girl missing from the family’s tent at the Blowholes campsite, north of Carnarvon. Ms Smith and Mr Gliddon are pictured on Channel Seven’s Flashpoint before Cleo was found
‘The police investigation was meticulous … the information that we had and the evidence we put together was exceptional.’
Police launched a major investigation after Cleo’s mother awoke to find the girl missing from the family’s tent at the Blowholes campsite, north of Carnarvon.
More than 100 officers were assigned to the task force with investigators processing thousands of calls to Crime Stoppers.
Surveillance footage was sought from motels and children’s clothing stores within a 1000km radius of the campsite and forensic officers sifted through more than 50 cubic metres of rubbish from roadside bins.
The state government meanwhile offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Cleo’s whereabouts.
![Kelly has lodged an appeal against his sentence](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/22/02/69493573-12109351-Terence_Kelly_pictured_has_lodged_an_appeal_against_his_sentence-a-60_1684719136938.jpg)
Kelly has lodged an appeal against his sentence
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