Dame Denise Lewis, 53, reveals she feels ‘sexier than ever’ as she poses for her first lingerie shoot

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Dame Denise Lewis says she felt more confident and attractive than ever before when she did a lingerie photoshoot at age 53.

The Olympic gold medallist is the new spokesperson for Coco de Mer’s Icons collection and looked stunning while showcasing the line’s designs.

As someone who’s always prioritized wellness – and a former heptathlete, even after 20 years of retirement – I have to say, staying active is truly a lifelong journey! I recently shared a photo of myself feeling confident and fit in a swimsuit, and it’s been wonderful to see the positive response. It just proves that with dedication, you can feel amazing at any age!

As a lifestyle expert, I truly believe age is just a number, and I was thrilled to see Denise embody that spirit in her recent lingerie shoot. She shared with me that stepping in front of the camera at fifty wasn’t about the lingerie itself, but about proving that confidence has nothing to do with age. It’s a powerful message – being seen and owning your beauty at any stage of life is incredibly empowering!

‘It feels more energising than I could have imagined.

My understanding of confidence has evolved. Now, it’s about truly feeling comfortable and strong in who I am – embracing my self-awareness and feeling better than ever as I look ahead to what’s next.

The mother of four explained that she focuses on her health not to break records, but to feel strong in both mind and body.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m absolutely thrilled to be recognized as an Icon by Coco de Mer. It’s incredibly humbling, but more importantly, it feels like a powerful statement. For too long, society has tried to make women feel invisible as we age. This recognition proves something I believe wholeheartedly: we aren’t fading away in midlife – we’re actually *rising*. We’re taking back ownership of our bodies, rewriting our narratives, and demanding to be seen – vibrant, sensual, and completely, unapologetically ourselves.

In a conversation with The Times, Denise explained that posing for the photos was a way to celebrate her body and all the work she’s put into it. She feels it’s empowering for a woman over 50 to confidently say, ‘This is me, and I’m proud of who I am.’

As a lifestyle expert, one of the things I champion most is helping women recognize their wholeness. It’s so easy to get caught up in roles – ‘working woman,’ ‘mother,’ – but I truly believe you can embrace all those aspects of your life *without* losing sight of who you are at your core. My hope is that this inspires women to remember their individual essence beyond any label.

Denise is mother to four children, having juggled her incredible sporting career with motherhood. 

She found it surprisingly upsetting to discover that Team GB provided childcare and a space for nursing mothers at last year’s Olympics, where nine British mothers competed. She admitted feeling strongly affected by this information.

She felt there was a lot of praise focused on simply returning to competition and celebrating that achievement. She believes sports organizations and support systems should be focused on making that return possible.

When I went through it myself, nobody offered support, and the media coverage was negative. That made me start to question things.

Denise became pregnant in 2001, just after achieving a remarkable victory at the Sydney Olympics. Despite suffering a calf muscle injury and an Achilles tendon problem, she won Britain’s first athletics gold medal in eight years.

Denise and Patrick Stevens, who share 23-year-old daughter Lauryn, separated in 2005, just a year and a half after Lauryn’s birth. Patrick is a sprinter from Belgium.

She married music manager Steve Finan O’Connor in a small, private wedding in 2006. They were set up by mutual friends.

They went on to welcome three sons: Ryan, 19, Kane, 16, and Troy, six. 

Denise was 46 years old when her son, Troy, was born. She described him as a complete surprise, explaining to Lorraine Kelly on ITV that they hadn’t been planning another child. She had believed she was starting menopause when she discovered she was pregnant!

This year, she shared with Daily Mail that the biggest difference between having a baby at 46 versus 29 is feeling secure enough to parent according to her own instincts.

She decided she would sleep in a different room from her husband, who would take care of their older sons. This would allow her to spend quality time with Troy, get some much-needed rest, and return to work in about two months.

‘I wanted a clear head. Good energy,’ she explained. ‘And it worked a treat.’

Denise has been recognized as a Coco de Mer Icon, joining a prestigious group that includes Helena Christensen, Pamela Anderson, and Charli Howard.

As someone who’s dedicated to brands with a purpose, I’m thrilled about our new partnership! At Coco de Mer, we’re all about uplifting women, and Dame Denise truly embodies that spirit. She’s a real pioneer, and I believe she’s an incredible role model for women everywhere – a true trailblazer who inspires us all.

I absolutely love watching Denise blossom! Seeing her embrace her strength and feel so confident and sensual in Coco de Mer, especially as she starts this exciting new phase of her life, is truly inspiring. It’s wonderful to witness her owning her power and feeling amazing while doing it.

We’re dedicated to celebrating female pleasure and body confidence, and we believe beautiful lingerie can help every woman feel good about herself, no matter her age. Partnering with Denise will help us share that message.

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2025-09-25 10:04