‘I’mhappyto embracemy body afterbecomingamum’
Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt opens up about her love of fitness and the pressures of being in a girl band
When the Pussycat Dolls first hit the charts in 2005 with their single Don’t Cha, they became renowned for their striking looks, slick dance routines and distinctive outfits. Since reforming in 2019 after a nine-year break, Kimberly Wyatt admits the pressure to fit a certain ideal in the noughties was intense and insists she has a much better relationship with her body these days.
“It was very vocal that we had to look a certain way,” she says.
The 38-year-old reveals that being a parent to Willow, six, Maple Lyla, three, and Ford, one, with husband Max Rogers has also changed her attitude towards her body.
“I’m happy with who I am,” she says. “That takes a lot of practice and bravery and outwardly owning who you are.”
The band are set to go on tour in 2021 and Kimberly admits she’s throwing herself into an intense routine, but insists it’s her stamina and strength she’s focused on, not her waistline.
Here, Kimberly opens up about body positivity, leaning on her bandmates for support and how she almost lost her place as a Doll…
How often do you work out each week?
If I’m at the height of my exercise
regime, which I am now for the Pussycat Dolls tour, I do three to five sessions a week. I keep each workout to a minimum of 30 minutes, whether I’m doing a dance drill, jogging, rowing or even jumping rope.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to get fit this year?
Consistency is key. It’s not going to feel good to start with. I know when I take a break from fitness it takes at least three workouts to get back into the swing of it. So give yourself those three gruelling sessions to get through. I also get bored easily so I mix it up. I do hot yoga with my husband Max, reformer Pilates, circuit training – but I love dance too. It’s a great boost for your mental health. It’s hard for an older generation to step into a dance studio as we think it’s a younger thing, but there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to have a boogie.
Has your body changed much since you became a mum?
Yes, especially after three children – and I’m growing older. I’m happy to embrace a whole new body and champion that body. As much pressure as I feel that my body isn’t as gorgeous as every other hourglass shape with ripped abs, I’m happy with who I am. That takes a lot of practice and bravery and outwardly owning who you are.
Is it a challenge to find time to work out?
Of course.You have to find something manageable. I make time because I know how good it’s going to make me feel. Even if it’s just 20 or 30 minutes. It’s difficult with three kids and all the madness, but I know they have their nap time from 12-2pm so I just push myself then. It’s my one chance. My fitness and my mental health benefit as a result. If I’m really tired and not feeling a big cardio workout, I’ll still do a stretch session.
What’s your diet like? Do you strive to always eat healthily?
I think balance is really important. Everyone is different, but for me sugar is the devil. I watch my portion sizes and try to have a good amount of vegetables with each meal. I’m trying to go more vegetarian. My breakfast now is porridge and I add almonds, pine nuts, chia seeds and flax seeds – maybe a drizzle of maple syrup. For snacks, I try to eat grain bars or fruit. I like salads but they need to be exciting – beetroot with butternut squash, feta cheese and candied walnuts. Dinner needs to be easy with three kids, but I love using the foil method – putting salmon with new potatoes and popping them in the oven to cook together.
Massively, massively. I had horrible cystic acne when I first became a Doll and it almost cost me my place in the group! The pressure to get rid of it was intense, but it also caused more stress, which made me break out. As a dancer, finding a good relationship with fitness and food became key. I’ve had to fight my battles with the way I look, but now, instead of focusing on my six-pack abs, it’s more about what my body can do. I want stamina and flexibility – I want to be able to get on stage and be the best Pussycat Doll.
Were the Pussycat Dolls competitive about fitness?
‘I’ve had to fight my battles with the way I look’
No, we were supportive of each other. We were each other’s workout buddies but also there as a shoulder to cry on when being in a girl band became too much. We had this pressure to be the winning girl band and were up against women with incredible bodies. We were fortunate that the amount of fitness in our shows kept us in good shape. That’s not to say we didn’t feel pressure in between – it was very vocal that we had to look a certain way.
Kimberly recommends Readly digital magazine app as a great source of health, fitness and recipe inspiration, with 5,000 magazines on the Readly app and readly.com