By Kristy Johnson.
She may have been known for years as the Pussycat Doll with the amazing flexibility and ultra-toned body, yet there is more than meets the eye with this gorgeous blonde.
Having hung up her Pussycat Doll boots, Kimberly Wyatt has gone on to forge a successful business empire which includes judging reality competition Got To Dance UK, forming her own management company Beautiful Movements and the creation of her own cosmetics line.
Here Dance Informa chats with the down-to-earth star on life after the Pussycat Dolls, and how she maintains that perfect dancer’s body.
How would you describe being involved in Got To Dance UK?
It’s been incredible! I love being part of the show. It gives me the chance to sort of give back to the next generation of dancers, and share my experiences and knowledge of the 24 years I’ve been dancing. I love sitting there being inspired by so much talent that graces the stage.
Have you found it difficult to shed the Pussycat Doll tag? Or are you grateful to it for providing you with a platform to go on to other things?
It’s a little bit of both. It’s a really beautiful thing that the Pussycat Dolls has brought to my life! You know, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here where I am now without it! I know I wouldn’t. But at the same time, you know, it served its purpose and I’m taking personal steps in another direction, which is exciting. I’ve had my trials and tribulations, but at the end of the day, what I’ve learnt is that the Pussycat Dolls is always going to be a part of me. It’s always going to be with me. So I just embrace that as much as possible and keep moving forward with my own sort of agendas and business endeavours.
Having released the single “Derriere”, do you plan on releasing an album?
Music is something that I love making. I love the whole process of it. I’m a dancer at heart. That’s always going to be my first passion. I just have plans to stay creative and keep building amazing shows, taking up opportunities to get back in the studio and make fantastic music, and see where it takes me really. I have a lot of business endeavours as well. I’m starting my management company Beautiful Movements Management, which will roster some of the Got To Dance finalists. I’ve got my production company, cosmetics and perfume, so there are a lot of tools to my trade. All of it keeps me creative and keeps me consistently looking for inspiration.
Kimberly Wyatt. Photo by Joseph Sinclair.
How do you maintain your amazing flexibility? Do you have a certain fitness regime you adhere to?
I definitely do try and get to some sort of fitness on most days. I always start with a nice warm-up and stretch to keep my joints and muscles limber and supple for future years. It gets tougher as you get older! I’m 31, and I’m embracing it and loving it! I’m just grateful that I still get opportunities to dance and still have a reason to keep stretching (laughs).
Do you find pressure to always look good? Are you able to keep it all in perspective?
A bit of both I would say! There’s absolutely a lot of pressure to look good, especially being a female in the business. There’s a lot that comes into play. But at the same time, you can’t lose sight of who you are and your perspective of who that person is. I carry that in everything that I do, but I’m always looking to better myself and always take the steps in the right direction. Being a businesswoman, I need to look after my ventures.
What type of exercise do you love to do?
I like to mix it up! I never like to get bored. I’m partial to interval training. I think it’s a great way to shed pounds and tone up. So I like to do four-minute bursts of interval cycle, and then I give myself a two-minute break. And then another blast and a two-minute break. So I usually do a 30-minute intensive workout with stretching to start and cardio to finish.
Do you have any diet tips? Or a few rules you swear by?
A rule that I swear by is that there are no shortcuts (laughs). You have to eat the right foods, you have to watch your portion, you have got to get the right nutrients, and you have to workout. You need to get your cardio in, in order to lead a healthy lifestyle. My tip is to obtain a lifestyle of healthy living that you can stay consistent with.
How about cheat meals? Do you have a favourite?
Oh, yes I do (laughs). Usually Sundays are my cheat day, and I just eat whatever I want! It usually consists of a big Sunday roast and lots of sugary treats.
Kimberly Wyatt’s Beautiful Movements Cosmetics. Photo by Joseph Sinclair.
Do you love the move to the UK?
Yeah, it’s been amazing! I’ve always loved visiting here, the culture and the people. The weather is something to get used to, but I love my life here. I have my office in central London and I just love it. I’m really happy.
How did your makeup line Beautiful Movements Cosmetics come about?
Beautiful Movements started as a blog site, which allowed me to interact with my fans, share my thoughts on life and make positive changes. I wanted to create endeavours that I’m passionate about. Beautiful Movements Cosmetics was the first branch of that. I was able to create a cosmetics line I could be proud of that offered the amazing pigments in eye shadow and blush, but still maintained that coverage so if you deal with problematic skin it can really give you the coverage you need. I was happy to build a company I could be proud of because of the ingredients, and knowing that it offers quality over everything.
What’s the best piece of beauty advice you have come across?
I would say…to stay true to you, and dare to be different. I think it’s important to try many things in order to find out who you are. When you finally know who you want to be or who you are, stick to it and don’t let anybody change you.
Do you have any beauty essentials you couldn’t live without?
Oh, definitely mascara and lip-gloss! They are two things I could not live without (laughs). I also love a really good face mist.
Is it true you are releasing your own perfume?
Yes! It’s called ‘Cadence’ and it will be out in June. The fragrance notes are patchouli and it has a lot of yellow melon as the top notes. It’s got a beautiful summery fun top notes that engage your senses, but also has a bit of musky undertones that make it a bit bold and statement worthy. Every time I wear it out I get lots and lots of compliments. I love the scent!
Are you planning on coming to Australia anytime soon?
Yeah, I potentially will be. I’ve always loved visiting Australia. The fans there have always been so good to the Pussycat Dolls and good to myself. I’ve taught quite a few dance workshops there and the students are so eager to learn and are so good at what they do. There are some potential plans in the mix, so I’ll be visiting sometime this year.
Photo (top): Kimberly Wyatt. Photo by Joseph Sinclair.
Share this:
