Professional dancer Katya Jones and Olympic snowboarder Aimee Fuller have swapped the dance floor and the slopes for the front cover of Women's Fitness UK, showcasing their impressive athletic physiques.
A Friendship Forged in Fitness
The pair, who first met in 2021, have become inseparable, bonding over a shared passion for health and exercise. The 36-year-old Strictly Come Dancing star and the 34-year-old former Olympian opened up about how their friendship empowers them both in and out of the gym.
They revealed insights into their typical weekend ritual, which includes energetic laps along the River Thames, intense sessions of hot yoga, and competitive games of Padel.
Levelling Up Together
'As friends, we've trained together across a multitude of activities that neither of us have done before,' Aimee explained. She noted that this approach has helped them develop new skills and grow together as individuals, strengthening their bond significantly.
Reflecting on the magazine photoshoot, where they posed in matching black-and-white gym wear and boxing gloves, Aimee added: 'So proud to be on the cover of Women’s Fitness celebrating friendships that empower us to level up and be the best version of ourselves.'
She emphasised the motivational power of a workout buddy, stating: 'We all have days that we struggle to show up for ourselves, so by committing to a friend, you not only show up for them but for yourself.'
Strictly Setback and Fan Outrage
The cover story emerges shortly after Katya faced a devastating exit from the current series of Strictly Come Dancing with her partner, actor Lewis Cope. Despite being tipped for the final and frequently topping the leaderboard, the couple were eliminated in a shocking dance-off during Musicals Week.
Fans were outraged, branding the result the 'biggest robbery in show history'. Many took to social media to express their disbelief, with one writing on X: 'I'm so heart broken for Katya, I really thought she'd win it this year.'
An emotional Katya later broke down on spin-off show It Takes Two, blaming herself for the elimination after losing to Amber Davis and Nikita Kuzmin. 'Looking back, obviously, I can't help but think I could have done things differently,' she said. Lewis comforted her, insisting her coaching was the reason for his success.
With their eyes on the future, Aimee's closing words in the feature seem to resonate for both women: 'Here’s to 2026, real smiles, real conversations, sweaty sessions and stepping into the strongest year yet.'
