‘I don’t want to age and feel old’
Singing icon Sinitta talks about getting back on the dating scene, looking after her health and her hopes for taking part in Strictly
It’s always a delight to catch up with Sinitta.The singer is flat out at the moment, touring the UK with the musical Chicago as Mama Morton, but thankfully she’s not too busy for a good old gossip.
The 58-year-old star has dated everyone from Brad Pitt to close pal Simon Cowell, but after some time to herself in lockdown she has decided to put her love life in the hands of an “expensive and exclusive” dating agency. Intriguing!
Lockdown also saw Sinitta stop smoking after she became ill with Covid, taking part in Stoptober’s 28-day challenge.
Here, Sinitta, who lives in London with her two teenage children, Zac and Magdalena, talks about looking for love and her aversion to ageing…
Sinitta, you’re looking great. How do you stay in shape?
I do Pilates and yoga in each place we go to with Chicago. I’ve also got a poodle called Scarlet, so we find the local parks and go walking. I’m trying to eat healthily. I love growing wiser and more experienced, but I don’t really want to age and feel old, so I’m just trying to keep healthy and as fit as possible.
You’d be great on Would you like to do it one year?
Strictly!
It’s on my radar, but I don’t think I’m on theirs. I hope they will choose me sooner rather than later. I don’t want them to leave it until I’m too old. I want to be able to stand a chance of getting to the end.
We think you could! Are either of your children planning to follow
you into showbiz?
I could imagine my daughter following me. She’s very interested in singing and she’d like to model, but she’s also really gifted at languages and sport. My son wanted to be a chef until last year, then he suddenly said, “I think I want to play tennis.”
‘It would be nice to share my life with someone again’
Are you single at the moment?
I have joined a very expensive, very exclusive dating agency, and they are arranging bespoke introductions for me. Isn’t that exciting? It’s not as scary as being on a dating app, which I did try. I talked to a lot of people but I didn’t have the confidence to meet anyone. After lockdown I thought it’d be nice to share my life and do things with someone again. You are never too busy for love.
You support the quit-smoking campaign Stoptober. Why is that?
I’m thrilled to have supported Stoptober this year. It was their 10th year and it’s a great way for smokers to join the thousands of people who have stopped smoking. I recently gave up smoking entirely. That was last year after I became ill with Covid-19 during the first lockdown. I had been a social smoker for a long time. I wanted to encourage others to see if they could give up.
How old were you when you started smoking yourself?
I was 16 years old. I actually gave up smoking two packs of cigarettes a day many years ago, and after that I just used to smoke socially. Getting Covid makes you suddenly value your health so much more. Even now, when I exercise, things that I could do before Covid I find more challenging now. But touring and keeping up with all these young kids I think is helping me get back to full recovery.
Were your children against you smoking?
Yeah, particularly because I talk to them a lot about never ever taking up smoking. They never really saw me smoking at home. Occasionally at a party in someone’s garden they might have seen me with a cigarette, and my son would literally march up and take it out of my hand and stamp it out. My daughter is at an age that she wants to do everything, so I’m hoping she won’t take up the habit.
Your close friend Simon Cowell is a smoker. Has he been supportive? Yeah, he’s also been inspiring, because he’s cut right down now. I’m encouraging him.
It’s not too late to join the thousands of people who are stopping smoking. For free support, search Stoptober online