Dance Diva: Kimberly Wyatt

Circle Dress from The Savage by Sarah RegensburgerEarrings by Alessa JewelryCocktail Ring by SwarovskiBoots by Doc Martens — Circle Dress from The Savage by Sarah Regensburger
Earrings by Alessa Jewelry
Cocktail Ring by Swarovski
Boots by Doc Martens

I don’t know about you but if I could do this life again I’d come back as a dancer… to have that control of your body and really own it in the way they do is completely awe inspiring. But what kind of dancer would you be? Ballet, with its strict routines and steeped in tradition, tap maybe, modern, ballroom which has seen a real resurgence since the BBC TV series, Strictly Come Dancing, or maybe you’d go for the lot.

Someone who I always remember being completely blown away by her moves is Kimberly Wyatt. She probably first caught your eye when she was part of the US girl group The Pussycat Dolls who made us fall in love with them with their killer dance moves, good looks and catchy tunes. These were a group of girls who were tough and seizing their lives by the balls and with lines like ‘don’t you wish your girlfriend was hot like me’ made you want to join in on the action. So, when Kimberly turned up for the shoot, I was a little surprised about how quiet she is in real life, but in a confident and secure in her own skin type of way. It’s clear that being nine months pregnant with your third child and happily married gives you an inner balance that you lack in your 20s.

‘It’s as hectic as it can possibly be but I don’t think I’d have it any other way. The juggle struggle between schools and having kids and having a career and a life and a good life is intense but it’s everything I’ve ever wanted.’

Bra from Ada ZanditonTrousers by Isabella OliverEarrings from Carat London — Bra from Ada Zanditon
Trousers by Isabella Oliver
Earrings from Carat London

Do you think having kids has changed you?

Yeah, in so many ways, the gamut of emotions from both sides of the extreme can hit you in one day now but I think the balance in having a foundation and giving them a life is really magical… If I’m working too much, I know it and I feel it, so I bring it back and spend more time with them. Like-wise, if I’m at home too much and I need to feed my spirit again, be creative and do what I love, then I get out there. I want to be an inspiration to them and live through my passions and share with them what it is that fuels my soul, then hopefully it will inspire them to one day find out what fuels them.

Do they like dancing?

They love dancing, Willow just got into dancing and gymnastics and Maple just follows the footsteps of her sister. I already see some potential in them both though. When they were in my belly I was talking to them about science, to get a college degree or do something a little bit more academic but you can’t deny it when a kid loves being a performer. I can see it really feeds their spirit.

Earrings by Alessa JewelryTop by Isabel OliverKnit Dress from The Savage by Sarah Regensburger — Earrings by Alessa Jewelry
Top by Isabel Oliver
Knit Dress from The Savage by Sarah Regensburger

Do you teach them dance?

I teach ‘Bring Your Heels’ classes all round the country for adults and children so they come to those with me and I take them to ballet. At home if it’s getting a little intense and emotional, we just put some music on and have a little boogie.

How did you cope with the whole being pregnant and your body changing?

It’s been different with every child. With the first one I was just so fascinated and excited and giddy. Second pregnancy, a little less exciting and just about getting through to the other side, and with number three being such a huge surprise and I’d already set my sights on going back to being a performer and being on stage, it’s something that’s just happening to me as I get on with my life. It’s tough, there’s nothing about pregnancy that I find easy.

Mother of Dragons Jacket from The Savage by Sarah RegensburgerDress by WalfordEarrings by Alessa JewelryBoots from Koi Footwear — Mother of Dragons Jacket from The Savage by Sarah Regensburger
Dress by Walford
Earrings by Alessa Jewelry
Boots from Koi Footwear

When I was pregnant with both of my kids, I hid it from my work colleagues because I was so nervous about losing jobs and people not employing me…

I’m so there with you…

Really?

Exactly the same and especially with this one because it was such a surprise and I already had jobs lined up, I was so scared to tell people because of the potential to miss out on a job or lose a job, I hid it as long as I could. I tried to do the proper thing and tell people at the right time and to be honest a job did let me go because I was pregnant and it was unbelievable. Not only did they let me go, they threatened to make my life difficult for me and potentially sue me for. It really made me realise what women and pregnant women have to go through with employers being scared to hiring a woman. On the flip side I want it all. I want to be a mum, I want to have a career, I want to do it all and unfortunately it does come with great sacrifice but it’s just difficult when that sacrifice is made for you rather than you making it.

Wow, that is scary when we have those fears and clearly for good reason. Was it a dancing job?

Yes it was, pregnancy is not an illness and I’ve always danced through all of my pregnancies. Even now I’m doing ‘Almost Never’ for CBBC.

acket by Malan BretonDress from WalfordEarrings from Carat LondonHat from Misa Harada — acket by Malan Breton
Dress from Walford
Earrings from Carat London
Hat from Misa Harada

Do you work out now?

I’ve always worked out whilst I’m pregnant but I just change it slightly and then after the baby comes, I’m looking to get back on stage in a major way and get back into the best shape of my life. I have to have a caesarean as I’ve already had two which means I will have to rest for a bit after so I’ll gradually get back to where I was before.

Do you think you’d like to get back into music again?

It’s a big possibility that will happen again. I DJ to keep my connection with music, whether it’s doing Gay Pride or clubs.

And what about the Pussycat Dolls, would you ever get back together?

There is always a possibility.

Oh really… are you having talks about that then?

There has been talks for quite some time. But I feel quite optimistic that it might just be in the future.

So what’s next, apart form having a baby of course?

I’m doing a lot of acting at the moment, I’ve just done this short film called ‘Fallen Dream’ which touches on dance and experiences I had in LA, an independent feature called ‘Ria’ starring Dean Cain as well as Luke Goss and I’m filming the ‘Almost Never’ series 2 at the moment. I like becoming someone else, I’m really enjoying that right now - dance is always a big part of me so I’m working with the Youth Sports Trust to bring dance into schools as well so that’s all really exciting.