Shakira Akabusi

Shakira Akabusi is a leading women’s health expert, multimedia presenter, author and inspirational keynote speaker. As the Founder of StrongLikeMum, she is recognised for challenging outdated ideas about motherhood and helping women build physical confidence, emotional resilience and sustainable wellbeing. Her greatest achievement is creating a trusted platform that combines professional health expertise with honest, relatable experience.

Shakira began her career as a performer in London’s West End, where she spent five years working in musical theatre. This early experience developed her stage presence, communication skills and ability to connect naturally with audiences, qualities that continue to define her work as a speaker and presenter. In 2013, Shakira retrained and qualified as a Pre and Postnatal Exercise and Rehabilitation Specialist, initially coaching women through individual sessions before using social media to reach a wider audience. Her professional qualifications are supported by her own experience as a mother of four, including twins, which has given her a practical understanding of pregnancy, postnatal recovery, shifting identity and the emotional pressures surrounding motherhood. Shakira has also trained in perimenopause health, functional movement, biomechanics, life coaching and the connection between the body and mind. 

In 2018, Shakira established StrongLikeMum, a women’s health and fitness community created to challenge misconceptions about postnatal life and support mothers as they rebuild their strength, confidence and sense of identity. She later became the author of ‘The Strong Like Mum Method’, published by Hachette in 2022, providing guidance on exercise, nutrition, sleep, mindset and wellbeing during pregnancy and after birth. Shakira has expanded the brand through the ‘StrongLikeMum Podcast’, an online fitness platform and a YouTube community offering accessible workouts and expert advice. She is a respected television and radio contributor, with appearances on ITV’s ‘Lorraine’, ‘This Morning’, ‘Good Morning Britain’, BBC ‘Morning Live’, BBC ‘Breakfast’, Channel 4 and Channel 5. Shakira has also presented for, partnered with or delivered workshops for Adidas Global, Amazon UK, Warner Bros. Discovery, BUPA, Virgin, Gymshark and the National Running Show. Her written work has appeared in Vogue, Stylist, Hello!, Women’s Health and HuffPost. Further recognition includes becoming the September 2025 Cover Star of Women’s Fitness, a 2026 Women’s Running Cover Star and the GLOMAMA Sport and Fitness Mama of the Year.

Shakira is an engaging choice for organisations seeking a speaker who can make women’s health informed, inclusive and practical. She combines the confidence of an experienced performer, the knowledge of a qualified practitioner and the honesty of someone who has navigated pregnancy, motherhood, mental health challenges and postnatal recovery herself. Shakira gives audiences clear strategies that can be applied immediately, while encouraging more open conversations about health, identity and support.