When pictures of a bikini-clad Natasha Hamilton holidaying in Dubai appeared in the papers recently, we were jealous to say the least.
After all, the mum-of-two’s womanly body is a far cry from the tomboyish look of her Atomic Kitten days, so much so that the star is proud to admit she keeps getting compared to bootylicious Beyoncé!
“Loads of people keep telling me how much I look like her,” grins Natasha, 26. “It’s like I’ve grown from a girl into a woman in the past 12 months. Even my face has changed. I feel and look like a completely different person!”
The Liverpool-based singer, who’s 5ft 5 and a size 8, is still as slim as ever. But whereas in her pop days her figure was “straight up and down,” she now has D-cup boobs and a Beyoncé-esque booty.
The star had a boob job after the birth of Josh, now six, to boost her from an A to a C cup. But despite her pregnancies, Natasha hasn’t put on any weight since her Atomic Kitten days. She says she fluctuates between 8 and 9st, but rarely bothers to weigh herself.
The singer reckons her transformation in is all down to her body filling out as she’s got older, and also from having children. As well as son Josh, whose dad is nightclub owner Fran Cosgrave, she has son Harry, four, from a relationship with dancer Gavin Hatcher.
Natasha says: “Over the past few years my boobs have grown to a D cup. About time too, it’s only taken 26 years!
'My favourite body part is my sticky-out-bum'
“My favourite body part is my sticky-out bum. I hate it if I lose a couple of pounds, as it goes straight off there. I’ve got hips now too, but I love my curves – I think the hourglass is the perfect womanly figure. Celebs like J-Lo and Scarlett Johansson look amazing.”
As for Natasha’s radiant glow, she says that’s thanks to her “hot husband” – former model Riad Erraji, 32, who she married in November 2007.
She says: “Riad gives me confidence. He’ll tell me I’m gorgeous, intelligent, sexy – he makes me feel more womanly.”
That’s not to say Natasha is completely happy with her body. “When I get dressed there’s always something I complain about,” she says. “I haven’t got stretch marks on my belly, but I have on my thighs and a bit of cellulite, so I avoid looking at it in the mirror!”
Since Atomic Kitten split in 2004, Natasha’s been enjoying being a full-time mum and admits exercise and diets have taken a backseat. After trying the Atkins plan when she was in the band and nearly passing out (“I couldn’t handle it, I felt so lethargic”) she says diets are a waste of time.
'My weakness is pastry but my rule is everything in moderation'
“We all know what’s good for us, and if you eat too much of the bad stuff it’ll go on the hips,” she says. “My weakness is pastry, but my rule is everything in moderation.”
A typical day for Natasha will start with a croissant or cereal, or bacon and poached eggs at the weekend. After a mid-morning snack of a banana, she’ll have a sandwich or Caesar salad for lunch and then at teatime she’ll usually cook a big meal for the family to enjoy together.
“I’ll make spaghetti Bolognese or sea bass with salad and rice. I used to cook separately for the kids, but they wanted to try our food so now we all eat the same.”
As for exercise, Natasha struggles to swap the sofa for the gym after a day with the kids. Instead, she often records yoga classes from the Body and Balance channel on Sky+, to do when she has time.
“I do go to the gym occasionally,” she says. “But the only thing that motivates me is if I’ve got something I need to shape up for, like a holiday.”
And now Natasha has the perfect goal – she’s releasing her debut single in July and an album in October. “I’ll be shooting my video soon and I look at other artists and think: ‘Oh God, they’re so fit!’” she laughs. “Age has made me take these things with a pinch of salt, but I do want to wear tight jeans without an overhang.”
'After six days I was so toned. I couldn't believe it'
In a bid to tone up without losing weight, Natasha and husband Riad have enrolled on a week-long boot camp next month. The star completed one in January and was stunned when she finished the regime of circuits, hikes and press-ups 2lbs lighter, and with three and a half per cent less body fat.
“After six days I was so toned,” she says. “I couldn’t believe it!”
Natasha and Riad are also planning to add to the family in the next few years. “I just love being pregnant,” she says. “The kids have made me the woman I am today – strong and proud. I love them to bits.”
By Catherine Woods