Shakira Akabusi

Shakira Akabusi is a pre and postnatal exercise specialist, author, and founder of the StrongLikeMum platform, empowering women to embrace confident, healthy motherhood. Qualified in pregnancy exercise and postnatal rehabilitation since 2013, she has worked with leading brands including Adidas UK and Virgin Start-Ups, authored *The Strong Like Mum Method*, and appeared across ITV's *This Morning*, BBC platforms, and publications such as Vogue and Stylist Magazine. Shakira equips audiences with practical tools to challenge outdated stereotypes, support mental wellbeing, and design motherhood on their own terms, inspiring sustainable health and self-belief for women navigating pregnancy and beyond.

During her first pregnancy, Shakira Akabusi found herself surrounded by outdated myths and limiting expectations about what motherhood would mean for her body, her identity, and her future. Determined to reject these narratives, she trained and qualified as an expert in pregnancy exercise and postnatal rehabilitation in 2013, transforming her personal frustration into professional purpose. What began as one-to-one coaching with women navigating their own pregnancies has grown into the StrongLikeMum platform, a global movement uniting mothers around the belief that they can design the motherhood they want, not the one prescribed to them. Through her book, *The Strong Like Mum Method*, and her influential social media presence, Shakira has created accessible pathways for women to reclaim confidence in their changing bodies and challenge the stereotypes that so often diminish the experience of becoming a mother.

Shakira's credibility extends far beyond her qualifications. She has led workshops and collaborated with major brands including Adidas UK, Virgin Start-Ups, The National Running Show, Bugaboo, and COS, demonstrating her ability to translate evidence-based practice into engaging, practical guidance. Her media presence spans television, radio, and print, with appearances on ITV's *This Morning*, BBC Pointless, *Lorraine*, GB TV News, and BBC Radio, alongside contributions to *Vogue*, *Stylist Magazine*, *Women's Health Magazine*, and *Mother and Baby Magazine*. As an ambassador for the ReThink Mental Illness charity, she advocates for mental wellbeing alongside physical health, recognising that motherhood transforms both body and mind. Her work with clients such as Amazon UK, EE Learn Live, and Bupa reflects her versatility and her capacity to address diverse audiences with warmth, authority, and relatability. Bilingual in German and a mother of four herself, Shakira speaks from lived experience as well as professional expertise.

Shakira equips audiences with practical tools to support sustainable health, challenge limiting beliefs, and foster self-belief during and after pregnancy. Her talks and workshops focus on actionable strategies that women can apply immediately, whether they are navigating their first pregnancy or supporting others through theirs. She empowers organisations to better understand and serve mothers, creating environments where women feel seen, supported, and capable. Audiences leave her sessions with renewed confidence, a clearer sense of agency, and the knowledge that motherhood can be a period of strength rather than limitation. Rooted in her rich cultural heritage, her love of family, and her vibrant energy, Shakira continues to inspire women globally, proving that motherhood and personal empowerment are not opposing forces but powerful partners in shaping a fulfilling, authentic life.