TV presenter, model and businesswoman Tess Daly, 53, shares her love of friendship and self-care, and talks about her new sustainable swimwear brand, Naia.
Tess Daly: ‘Keeping fit has always enhanced my mood. I love walking, and yoga also features a lot in my daily routine.’
‘Keeping fit has always enhanced my mood. I love walking, and yoga also features a lot in my daily routine. Even if I just spend a small amount of time doing yoga it helps clear my mind in the morning. It enables me to take some time out to recharge for the day ahead. When I have the time, I work out two or three times a week with my trainer. The rest of the time I’m just running around after the kids, who keep me on my toes!
‘When it comes to food, I am a firm believer in not denying yourself. You have to allow yourself to have your cake and eat it too sometimes, especially when on holiday. As long as you feel confident on the inside, it reflects on the outside. Nutrition is a huge thing for me as I like to try to eat healthily as much as possible, especially if I am cooking at home. I enjoy making food, and gut heath is important to me – I’d say it’s part of my wellbeing ethos, as it’s so vital for me to be strong and healthy for my family.
Tess Daly: ‘When it comes to food, I am a firm believer in not denying yourself. You have to allow yourself to have your cake and eat it too sometimes, especially when on holiday.’
‘The act of self-care is vital. As a busy working mum, I always put myself last on the list after seeing to my family’s needs, but unless I prioritise a bit of time to myself I will crumble. Sometimes all it takes is just for me to spend 10 minutes out of my schedule to focus on the present. Making time for some mindful breathing is what gets me through each day. I try to set my alarm for 6am so I can get time on my own before the rest of the house wakes up. I’ll sit and have a cup of tea and focus on my to-do list, which is often quite long!
‘People often ask me how I juggle everything and I think all working mums have the same thought process. We have to be good jugglers. I am a nurturer by nature so need to ensure the kids are OK and happy so I can feel the best version of me.
Tess Daly: ‘Having travelled abroad and holidayed a lot with my business partner, Gayle Lawton, we were both constantly seeking beautiful swim and resort wear that would fit perfectly.’
‘For as long as I can remember I have loved fashion. Even before I went into working in television, I had an early interest in clothes – especially when I was modelling – so to now own my own brand is a dream come true. Having travelled abroad and holidayed a lot with my business partner, Gayle Lawton, we were both constantly seeking beautiful swim and resort wear that would fit perfectly.
Tess Daly: ‘The act of self-care is vital. As a busy working mum, I always put myself last on the list after seeing to my family’s needs, but unless I prioritise a bit of time to myself I will crumble.’
‘Finding this a difficult task, we decided to create our own glamorous, bohemian-luxe beachwear called Naia. Having holidayed together for years, Gayle and I both had an understanding of how materials work and can be cut in the most flattering way. We also know some people like to be able to go from the beach to the bar, so versatility was key for us as well.
‘We understand a woman is at her most vulnerable in terms of her body when in swimwear. It’s a bit like walking around in your underwear. So we designed the pieces with pockets, ruched waistlines and lightweight materials to help women have more body confidence. There are certain things some of us want to hide or enhance; I definitely want to suck things in a little around the waist, which is where the control panels come in handy as it means I can have lunch on the beach and not need to worry about my belly hanging over!
Tess Daly: ‘We understand a woman is at her most vulnerable in terms of her body when in swimwear. So we designed the pieces with pockets, ruched waistlines and lightweight materials to help women have more body confidence.’
Latetia Plunge Swimsuit, (£160) with Serafina
Frill Dress (£150), both available at naiabeach.com.
‘I believe kindness is a superpower. I tell my two kids all the time about the importance of being kind, and I’m lucky enough to have such wonderful friends who are all so loving. Working with my best friend Gayle on Naia is like a dream come true. Not only is it fun, but we both have the same goals with the business, most importantly the vision of making women feel comfortable in their own skins.’
For more details about Naia, visit naiabeach.com.
Related content:
- Kelly Brook on healthy weight loss and body confidence
- Lorraine Kelly on weight loss, wild swimming & menopause
- Kirsty Gallacher on fitness, nutrition and why she left GB news
Words: Suzanne Baum | Images: Christian Vermaak
