Alesha: ‘I finally respect my body’
The pregnant star’s more confident than ever before
She’s spent the majority of her adult life in the public eye after finding fame 20 years ago in girl group Mis-teeq. But, according to Alesha Dixon, it’s taken two decades for her to finally feel happy in her own skin. Speaking on her podcast last week, the TV star told fans she’d spent her twenties focusing on her supposed flaws and scrutinising her body – but everything had changed after giving birth to daughter Azura, now aged five. She added that turning 40 sent her confidence soaring.
“The great thing about getting older is you just care less,” said the BGT judge, who shares Azura with husband of two years, Azuka Ononye. “I’m the most comfortable I’ve ever been. It’s so interesting to see how people fear getting older. I turned 40 last October, and I can honestly say I much prefer my body now to when I was in my twenties.”
For Alesha, who announced her second pregnancy in May, it took becoming a mother to finally make her appreciate her body. “After I had my daughter, I went through a phase where I was like, ‘Where
have the boobs gone?’ Everything had changed,” she said. “Then I came out the other side and had so much respect for my body. I felt more womanly. I’ve still got stretch marks, but I love how incredible the body is.” The star then displayed her newfound confidence by posting a candid snap of herself beaming in a bikini, with full baby bump on display. “I have a lot to smile about lately,” she wrote. “No make-up, no filters, just me and baby.” ■