Jordan Banjo is an ambassador for good health, making a living as a dancer and leading a balanced lifestyle with his family of three.
However, the dancer, 28, struggled with his weight in the past, losing seven stone following the Britain’s Got Talent win that cemented Diversity’s star status.
During his early teen years, Jordan turned to eating as a source of comfort, confessing he used food to escape from the heartbreaking bullying he endured in school.
Ahead of the release of his new music video in collaboration with BACARDI, the choreography expert recalled forming a friendship with the dinner ladies in his school in Essex.
He said: “I lost seven stone after winning Britain’s Got Talent in 2009. I was still a kid and half-way through my GCSE’s at the time.
Jordan admitted he lost seven stone after rising to fame on BGT (Image: AFP/Getty Images)
“My weight ballooned as I used comfort eating as a way to cope with racist bullying I was experiencing at the time. I remember I made friends with the dinner lady and would have three dinners at lunch.”
Joining the dance troupe Diversity, Jordan used humour as a front, covering up the way he was feeling about his body image as a teen.
He said: “I was confident and being in the group meant I could blend in, but I suffered with my weight and I think that’s where my humour came from.”
The Diversity star sadly struggled with his weight when he was in school (Image: Getty Images)
However, with help from his older brother Ashley Banjo, Jordan shed the weight through exercise and nutrition, eventually dropping down to 12 stone.
With his new slim physique, Jordan began to fixate on losing weight, and it took him years to find the happy balance he enjoys today.
Determined to help others who experienced similar struggles with their weight, Jordan joined forces with This Morning’s Dr Sara Kayat to host a brand-new weight loss series this year.
Titled Lose Weight Like Me, the Channel 4 series sees Jordan and Sara mentor eight different people, hoping to revamp their lifestyles.
Diversity have teamed up with BACARDÍ Rum to film a new music video
Discussing the new series, he said: “This will see people who want to shed some pounds paired with a previously successful slimmer.
“It’s something I’m really passionate about and I’ll be really involved in the weight loss journey as I’ll offer tips and advice based on my own personal experiences.”
Naturally, one of the ways Jordan likes to keep fit is through dancing, even downloading TikTok to test out the app’s famous short-form dance techniques.
While Jordan is still coming to grips with the app, he admitted his Kiss FM co-star and Diversity pal Perri Kiely is more adept at the speedy dance clips.
He said: “When it comes to TikTok, I have to admit I’m not that good – I leave that to Perri, he is always taking the mick out of me as I don’t get that many likes, shameful I know.
“But in fairness to me, Perri has grafted day and night for over a year to make his work and TikTok is now his life haha.”
Demonstrating their skills, the duo even teamed up with BGT judge Alesha Dixon to film a new BACARDI music video, moving in time to the classic hit Conga, which will be released later this month.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
