How Emma Willis stays SO youthful: Strictly Come Dancing host, 50, looks better than she did in her 20s thanks to these fitness routines and skincare tricks

She shot to fame in the early Noughties as a presenter for MTV's Total Request Live after working as a model - but fast forward nearly three decades and Emma Willis appears even more youthful.The 50-year-old presenter, from Birmingham, is about to host the latest season of Strictly Come Dancing with Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe, replacing Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.Viewers will no doubt be stunned by Emma's ageless complexion as she takes to the ballroom, with the star no stranger to showcasing her toned figure in an array of stylish looks both on and off the screen.But how does she manage to stay so youthful? Despite a packed agenda, which includes presenting on BBC Radio 2 and being a mother to her three children with Busted musician Matt Willis, Emma still manages to carve out time for her well-being.The presenter tries to fit in two to three hour-long workouts each week on top of regular pilates sessions and owns a £1,195 interactive mirror in her home gym, which is a device that 'delivers fully personalised, immersive sessions for body, mind and nutritional health.' As for her diet, Emma eats mostly gluten-free and sticks to low-sugar foods to manage energy levels and reduce bloating.She also recently visited a wellness retreat in Austria, where she enjoyed massages, cooking classes and sunbathing in front of mountains. Speaking to the Daily Mail, beauty expert Laura Kay said: 'Emma truly defies age. She is a fan of letting her skin breathe when she isn't working. She must understand skin texture and that your skin changes as you age. Viewers will no doubt be stunned by Emma's ageless complexion as she takes to the ballroom, with the star no stranger to showcasing her toned figure in an array of stylish looks both on and off the screen. Pictured in 2004 She shot to fame in the early Noughties as a presenter for MTV's Total Request Live after working as a model - but fast forward nearly three decades and Emma Willis (pictured in February 2026) appears even more youthful'Her pixie bob really helps frame her face too. I note she uses this clever beauty trick as it helps highlight her strong bone structure and accentuate her jawline and cheekbones. 'Her makeup choices and techniques also enhance her natural beauty. Her complexion is glowing and she doesn't appear to take much notice of major makeup trends, instead she uses techniques that work for her.'Discussing her beauty tricks, Laura said: 'I would say she loves a red lip on the red carpet, which helps make her look pop and is an easy addition to glam up her signature style. Her everyday preferred lip colours seem to be berries, deep pinks that still look very natural.'She is a fan of a darker eye and loves a smouldering look. Her eyes are very defined and she loves rich creamy gold, copper and bronze tones with bold black eyeliner and extra long lashes. This approach really helps to draw attention to her striking blue eyes.'She keeps her brows natural and softly defined - as we age, brows can become sparser, so keeping definition through the brow can really help frame the face.'She very likely uses a CC cream on her face, as her complexion always looks natural and dewy. 'She also appears to use highlighter at the top of her cheeks and under her eyes, as you can see where the light reflects when she is being photographed. 'Her cheeks are normally a soft pink and, by the looks of it, she may use a liquid blush, which enhances her cheeks while still looking beautifully natural.' The presenter (pictured at a wellness clinic) tries to fit in two to three hour-long workouts each week on top of regular pilates sessions and owns a £1,195 interactive mirror in her home gym, which is a device that 'delivers fully personalised, immersive sessions for body, mind and nutritional health.'Smita Ahluwalia, Skin Health Expert and Clinical Facialist, added: 'What Emma does demonstrate beautifully is that looking good at 50 isn't necessarily about changing your face.'It's about supporting what you already have: maintaining your collagen, keeping the skin hydrated, encouraging circulation and lymphatic flow, looking after the facial muscles and investing consistently in your skin.'Meanwhile, Joanne Evans, Expert Facialist & Founder of Skin Matters, said that Emma 'appears to have that particularly difficult-to-achieve combination of youthful skin, sculpted look, definition and natural expression'. 'At 50, her complexion looks fresh rather than overly treated, and that distinction is vital,' said the expert. 'Looking at Emma’s skin, I would put a lot of emphasis on skin quality rather than simply anti-ageing procedures. Good hydration, an intact skin barrier, even pigmentation and plenty of luminosity can take years off the appearance of the face.'Ultimately, I don't think there is one magic treatment responsible for Emma looking so youthful. It is much more likely to be a mix of good genetics, consistent skincare, hydration, sun protection, facial massage and a relatively light approach to makeup, combined with looking after herself generally. 'When it comes to the skin, I always recommend working from the inside and out, focusing on regular exercise, a good diet and taking supplements plays a huge role in looking and feeling youthful which is something I think is especially important when we talk about women in their 50s. 'Youthful doesn't have to mean completely line-free. Beautiful mature skin should still have expression and movement and the goal is to make the skin look healthy, luminous, firm and cared for and Emma seems to have achieved that balance perfectly well.' As for her diet, Emma eats mostly gluten-free and sticks to low-sugar foods to manage energy levels and reduce bloating Despite a packed agenda, which includes presenting on BBC Radio 2 and being a mother to her three children with Busted musician Matt Willis , Emma still manages to carve out time for her well-beingBefore giving birth to her third child, Trixie, in 2016, Emma admitted she had a sporadic approach to exercise. But during pregnancy, she had an increase of cellulite, which spurred her to take action and hire celebrity personal trainer Rob Solly.As well as designing a personal workout plan, Rob's programme explored diet, stress levels and sleep patterns to maximise benefits.'The secret is training while you're pregnant to get you in shape way before you give birth. Being 40 and pregnant with my third child, it's no surprise that the cellulite on my legs got out of control,' she told Woman magazine. 'I do all over body workouts, HIIT classes, boxing and lots of leg and back work.'The presenter now tries to fit in two to three hour-long workouts each week on top of her regular pilates sessions. Her reason for this? Emma felt a new responsibility to look after herself after her third child.'I just want to live as long as possible because I have three children and a husband that I don't want to leave,' she told the Daily Mail in 2019.'I see my parents getting older and I think 'How can I prevent what is going to happen to me?' I may as well try and live well now rather than getting to 60 and thinking 'Why didn't I go to those Pilates classes?' In 2021, Emma (pictured in 2024) revealed she has a £1,195 interactive mirror in her home gym, which is a device that 'delivers fully personalised, immersive sessions for body, mind and nutritional health.'In 2021, she revealed she had a £1,195 interactive mirror in her home gym, which is a device that 'delivers fully personalised, immersive sessions for body, mind and nutritional health.'It offers personal trainers and over 300 live and on-demand workouts, including pilates, barre, HIIT and more. Unlike a regular virtual workout from home, the sensors capture your movements, with AI giving you feedback.The following year, Emma took a further step in her wellness journey, spending time in a cryotherapy chamber, which is said to speed up metabolism and exercise recovery. Making time for herself is something which Emma has learned to prioritise with age. She told Women's Health in 2022: 'I normally put myself at the bottom of every to-do list, but turning 40 made me realise I need to change that if I want to be around for my kids as long as possible.'So now I schedule time during the day to show up for my body and mind by doing boxing and reformer Pilates. Finding things that work for you and making time for yourself is so important.' One thing she took up for herself is ice baths, after her husband Matt purchased one for their garden. 'I always procrastinate getting in, but I always feel so good after,' she added.As for her diet, Emma eats mostly gluten-free and sticks to low-sugar foods to manage energy levels and reduce bloating.Getting rid of sugar in her diet has made a big difference by making her 'less puffy'. Emma (pictured in 2023) likes to eat a healthy lunch too, and will usually have a soup that she has batch-cooked to last the weekThe star told the Mirror in 2024: 'I've been quite enjoying going sugar-free. I did it at the beginning of the year for about eight weeks and I noticed a massive difference in everything. My sleep patterns were better, I was less bloated all over, less puffy.'To start her day, she usually opts for a protein-rich meal. She told The Sunday Times of her morning routine at home in lockdown, revealing: 'Without fail I have eggs for breakfast. Then it's emails, texts, calls and Zoom meetings.'Emma likes to eat a healthy lunch too, and will usually have a soup that she has batch-cooked to last the week.For dinner, the star enjoys a varied diet when it comes to her last main meal of the day.She previously told her fans that she is partial to a curry, saying: 'I consider myself a bit of a curry connoisseur and am crowning @marksandspencer's Hot Madras Paste #MyMarksFave this month.' Another of Emma's top meals is roast lamb with lashings of gravy.She also takes Absolute Collagen sachets, Heights Omega 3 supplements and a probiotic. Speaking about her decision to take collagen, Emma revealed it's helped her embrace the 'power' of ageing. She said in a social media post: 'I’m turning 50 next year, and I’m not trying to hide it, I’m owning it. Ageing isn’t something to fear, it’s something to embrace. 'I want to age powerfully, not quietly. That means putting good things into my body so I can feel my absolute best - and show up as the strongest version of myself, inside and out.'That’s why I take Absolute Collagen every day. It helps put back the collagen we naturally lose as we age - and it’s become a key part of how I look after myself. Getting older isn’t a problem - it’s power. It’s confidence. It’s being unapologetically you.'In July, Emma and her husband enjoyed a relaxing break away at MAYRLIFE Medical Health Resort Altaussee in Austria.Sharing pictures from the retreat on Instagram, Emma wrote: 'I've always been obsessed with the human body and anybody that knows me would know that I LOVE a test! Wellness clinics are my idea of a perfect 'holiday' and I'd had my eye on @mayrlife_official for quite a while.'Matt and I booked a few days off and hot footed it to Austria and I'm so glad we finally made it there. 'Every test, every conversation and every little thing I've learned has helped me understand my body that little bit better I've been especially fascinated by just how much of our overall health starts with our gut!'As a chronic over thinker I don't take the time to prioritise myself as much as I should I always feel guilty when I do but being in that environment with the peace and quiet where you have the time to look inwards without any distractions was priceless!'What I loved most is that it wasn't about making it perfect or finding a quick fix. It was about understanding your body a little better and making small changes that you can actually take home with you.'However, Emma's health and wellbeing hasn't always been smooth sailing. In April last year, the TV presenter told fans she discovered she had a hole in her heart since she was born and so had surgery at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London.Keyhole heart surgery involves making small incisions in the chest as opposed to the breastbone as in traditional open heart surgery. This meant she avoided an open-heart recovery and instead had a 'smooth' recovery, but has had to learn to adjust. The presenter said: 'I was floored as I had gone 48 years oblivious, not knowing anything was wrong.'The mental shift was the biggest challenge because when you hear those words, it terrifies you. I'm hoping sharing my story will help others going through something like this.'