Tess Daly Embraces 'Second Act' at 56 with New Business Venture After Strictly Exit
Following her departure from Strictly Come Dancing last year, Tess Daly has revealed she is fully embracing what she describes as her 'second act' in life. At 56, the veteran television presenter feels she is 'starting a new chapter' and is part of a growing movement of women who are thriving professionally in their fifties and beyond.
A New Chapter Beyond the Dance Floor
Daly, who co-hosted the BBC's flagship Saturday night show for over two decades alongside Claudia Winkleman, stepped down in December. While Winkleman's exit was linked to her new BBC chat show, Daly has charted a different course, launching the activewear brand Naia Active with her friend Gayle Lawton.
In a candid interview with Top Sante magazine, Daly reflected on the shifting landscape for women of her generation. 'I feel like I'm seeing a lot of women my age just thriving,' she said. 'So many of my girlfriends are flourishing and achieving more at this point in their lives and careers than they have perhaps previously.'
The 'Second Act' Movement
Daly passionately articulated a sense of generational change. 'I really do feel like there is a 'second act' wave going on,' she explained. 'The generations before us were more likely to be thinking about slowing down and retiring, whereas no one I know is slowing down. They're kind of gearing up, discovering different creative sides of themselves.'
The mother of two sees this as a positive and deliberate shift. 'I do feel like there is an actual movement happening when it comes to women starting a new chapter in midlife, and I think it's absolutely brilliant,' she stated, citing her own business launch as a prime example.
Advice and Personal Philosophy
Daly offered empowering advice to other women experiencing a similar creative urge. 'Just go for it,' she urged. 'Only you can make something happen. As long as you have your health and the determination to succeed in a new endeavour, then you need to listen to your drive and follow it.'
She credits her own success to this proactive mindset. 'I've always just gone for it and taken the plunge if I'd had a calling and the drive to do something, because no one else is going to put it on a silver platter for me.'
Focus on Wellness and Nutrition
A self-professed fitness enthusiast, Daly also shared some of her personal wellness strategies, which align with her new activewear venture. She revealed a longstanding fascination 'with the power of food to heal' and employs simple nutritional hacks.
- Adding a handful of seeds and nuts to meals to boost fibre and protein intake.
- Making meals as colourful as possible for optimal nutrition.
- Always cooking double portions of vegetables to have healthy options readily available.
Fond Farewell to Strictly
Daly and Winkleman announced their joint departure from Strictly Come Dancing in October, presenting their final episode on December 20th. In a shared statement at the time, they expressed profound gratitude, calling their tenure 'an absolute dream.'
'We will cry when we say the last 'keep dancing',' they said, 'but we will continue to say it to each other. Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza.' This light-hearted remark now seems prophetic as Daly builds her own brand in the activewear space, symbolising her confident stride into a vibrant and fulfilling new era.
