The Woman Shaping Us Up

- Maria Lally

Kayla Itsines is very much the modern day fitness star. Five years ago, a supermodel client was the ultimate symbol of a trainer’s success, but today – in the social-media age – it’s all about your followers. And 26-year old Australian-born Kayla is leading the pack with an impressive 8.3 million followers on Instagram alone. To put that into context, Deliciously Ella – the clean-eating star known for her impressive following – has a mere 1.2 million. No wonder Kayla was recently named the world’s top social-media fitness influencer by Forbes magazine.

So, what sets her apart? She certainly looks amazing, with a feed full of photos of her looking super-toned, alongside easy-to-follow workouts, recipe ideas and inspirational quotes. She is a one-woman fitness empire: she has an app and website, where you can sign up for her virtual exercise programme, or buy her books or choose from her range of branded products. But she also shares the not-so-glowy parts of her life: when followers began complimenting her hair, she told them she wears a clipin ponytail because her hair is short and thin due to the female-pattern baldness that runs in her family. And she also often talks openly about suffering from anxiety.

In the flesh she looks perfect, but she’s down to earth and open as we chat about her new book, which focuses on how our habits are the key to good health. So, how can we make better ones?