Kimberley Walsh opens up past body image struggles


May 22, 2013

Kimberley Walsh has opened up about her past weight struggles in an interview, revealing that as a teenager she often turned to quick fix diets in an attempt to slim down. "Like most women, I dieted a lot as a teenager," she told Cosmopolitan Body. "I remember doing Atkins a few times before a video shoot. "It worked, but it was always a quick fix. As soon as I stopped, I'd crave all the things I'd banned myself from and just put the weight straight back on. I soon realised that I couldn't keep it up. I stopped dieting altogether when I was in my early 20s."

Kimberley, who recently attended HELLO!'s 25th anniversary party looking gorgeous in a tight-fitting minidress, admitted that her drastic diet attempts were the result of a reluctance to accept her womanly curves. "I was always aware that I had a rather large bottom" she said. "There weren't many girls in my school who were the same shape so I was always like, 'Oh, I'm not really the norm'." After becoming aware of famous women who celebrated their curves, Kimberley was able to feel more comfortable with her body. "It was only when people like J-Lo and Beyoncé came on the scene when I was younger that I thought, 'Well, if they’re considered attractive and sexy, then it can’t be that bad!' It’s really handy because you can see what they’re wearing and get tips on what might suit you."

After her stint on Strictly Come Dancing, Kimberley lost a lot of weight and now claims it is the best way to slim down. "Seriously, dancing is amazing for your body because you're not trying to lose weight or tone up," she said. "It all just happens very naturally… I've spent many years putting myself under the spotlight but now, in my thirties, I've accepted my body. I feel comfortable with it and I'm pretty happy with the way I look. "I've learnt that it’s all about making the best of what you've got."

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