Dancing around the kitchen in cropped T-shirt and high waisted knickers takes confidence which Dua clearly has in spades.
The popstar is joined by supermodel Karlie Kloss, DJ and entrepreneur Hannah Bronfman, tennis player Garbiñe Muguruza and actress Shay Mitchell to front adidas’ new limited-edition Statement Collection.
The female-focused capsule collection contains 23 high-performance pieces that cater to a variety of different training approaches from getting your flow on at yoga to powering through a HIIT class.
Floral camo and geometric prints give a clear nod to Stella McCartney’s design
The Statement Collection is built around three key sports bras – All Me, Don’t Rest and Stronger For It – engineered to cater to different body types, bust sizes and training intensity.
As interviewed by fellow adidas ambassador, Hannah Bronfman, Dua spilled the tea on her varied approach to health and fitness.
You’re on the road so much, how do you stay fit?
I try and work out as much as I can. It’s such a busy lifestyle I feel like I need to try and do something for myself every day. I love doing something that’s really fast and quick, like a 15-minute HIIT session which I can do before I start my day. If I’ve got a really early call time I don’t want to be waking up hours before I need to, to go and do a workout. So a high-intensity workout, shower, breakfast, and I’m on my way.
You have rules when it comes to dating. Do you have rules about your fitness/health or is it just what makes you feel good?
I try and stay as healthy as possible whenever I can. I’m never one to stop myself having naughty treats, but I try and limit it to days when I’m not as busy, because if I do eat a doughnut it usually puts me in a food coma!
I’ve read that one of your favourite workouts is boxing. What about boxing clicks for you as opposed to other workouts?
I like that it’s definitely a full body workout. Since starting boxing I’ve probably been in the best shape ever. It’s also a great stress reliever.
We often see you in crop tops, what are your favourite ab exercises?
I think different variations of crunches like bicycle crunches are good. Leg raises are also great unless my back hurts. Planks are good although almost certainly my least favourite!
What is your go-to cardio song and which of your own songs is the best to work out to?
‘Ape Shit’ by The Carters or ‘Level Up’ by Ciara. For my own song, ‘Be The One’.
You’ve been working and performing since you were quite young – was fitness always a part of your lifestyle or something you learned when you started your career? Did you play any sports as a child?
I used to play basketball when I was younger. I enjoyed it but used to be really short, so I would run around a lot but wouldn’t get thrown the ball! I also used to do gymnastics when I was in primary school but going to the gym was never really something I’d enjoy. It’s only just recently that I’ve fallen in love with it. I would always be that person who made a new year’s resolution, get a gym membership and then show up twice in the first week of January and then never go again. Now I love workout classes or working with a trainer. I feel like I’m pretty useless on my own, so I prefer being around other people working out with me.
You’re such a style icon from the stage to the gym, your outfits are always incredible. How did you develop your style? How do you switch up your workout style based on your mood or regime?
Depends what kind of work out and what the weather’s doing. If its early morning and I’m tired I always seem to reach for something more baggy and loose. If I’m doing Pilates or yoga I’d probably wear leggings and a work out bra top.
From writing your own songs, styling your own outfits and coming up with your own stage performances, what inspires you to create?
To be able to write about personal experiences is therapeutic. I try to do things that scare me or that I think I couldn’t necessarily pull off. Different places that I visit inspire me. I like to wear different outfits based on where I am.
Looking back at some of your biggest breakthroughs, what has been the driving force that got you there?
I think just the love I have for my job. I feel very lucky to be doing something I’ve dreamed of my whole life. My hobby is my job, that’s not to say that there aren’t hard things about it, there’s crazy schedules and not really spending enough time at home for example. But I get to do everything I’d imagined and more, things I didn’t even know would be possible like performing at the UEFA Champions League, I never thought I’d see myself in front of loads of football fans. It’s really exciting seeing what new things this career brings me, I’m just so grateful.
It’s an excellent time to be a woman, who are some females that inspire you?
So many women inspire me. From pop artists like Pink, to amazing songwriters and artists like Alicia Keys, to Michelle Obama to the model Adwooa Aboah. Women that have paved the way for young women of all different backgrounds and shown them support and that they can do anything they put their mind to. They are women that really fight for women’s rights in so many different ways, whether it’s a political standpoint or a more personal empowerment.
