Ellie Simmonds felt 'embarrassed' buying children's clothing as a teen

As a 4ft woman, Paralympian Ellie Simmonds knows "only too well" how hard it can be to find suitable clothing - a fashion industry flaw she hopes to fix with DEWEY: her new clothing range for women under 5ft.

Simmonds, 29, says clothes shopping as a teen left her "embarrassed" due to the lack of options available for shorter women. Her only option was to shop in the children's section, where the options weren't to her taste as they were designed for young girls.

Simmonds, who was born with a form of dwarfism called achondroplasia, speaks to Yahoo UK about her fashion label, her time on Strictly and her body insecurities.

Congratulations on the launch of DEWEY. Do you believe it has filled a much-needed gap in the market?

Yes, absolutely! As a 4ft woman I know only too well the difficulties that come with finding clothes to fit. I am lucky in that everything I have bought, my mum has always been able to alter for me but to finally have an all-inclusive brand for smaller people who are extra petite or of short stature like myself has been a long time coming. It is ground-breaking.

I have a great support system with the dwarfism community and know they are going to love this. And with 31% of the adult global population measuring under 5ft, the range serves a huge market. It is more than just a clothing line, it’s a movement for inclusivity. For the first time, there will be a 5ft mannequin in Selfridges, as part of the brand launch, so we are making history which is exciting.

As someone who loves fashion, what difficulties have you faced when it comes to buying clothes?

I am a fan of the high street shops and, like every woman, I absolutely love dressing up but my mum always had to shorten my clothes and do everything from alter the pockets to change the zips.

Although I’m much more confident now, as a teenager I was very embarrassed when I went shopping for clothes and had to go to the kids section to look – also, because I have size two to three feet, there was nothing available apart from shoes with butterflies or fairy lights on them. I never cried about it but it was just something I can recall that bothered me.

When you were on Strictly back in 2022, your outfits were amazing. Did you enjoy the chance to dress up?

As an athlete, I'd lived in a swimming costume and joggers for so long, so getting to wear sequins and gorgeous dresses was amazing. The style team created some incredible costumes to fit my size and with the fake tan, make-up and hair, I felt amazing.

The best thing about the show was the amazing people I met and Jowita Przystal, one of the professional dancers, has become one of my best friends. She is actually 5ft and wore a custom-made DEWEY dress to the National Television Awards recently.

On the subject of Strictly, you’ve gone on to forge an amazing career in TV, having just returned from Paris presenting the Paralympics. How was that?

It was such an incredible experience to be there not as an athlete, but on the other side. And Claire Balding has become an amazing friend, sitting alongside her on the sofa she made me feel very much at home.

Watching my fellow presenter, Rose Ayling-Ellis, make history be being the first deaf person to ever present live sport on television was a real 'pinch me' moment as it made me proud to see how far we have come in shining a light on people with disabilities.

Was there ever a time during the Paralympics when you wished you were back in the swimming pool?

No, as I'm aware of how much hard work goes into being an athlete and I’ve had my time. I don’t miss being in the water, but I do miss being fit.

My routine now is so different to what it was as, between the ages of 11 and 26, I was constantly training and obviously once that stopped, my body changed. I have the same insecurities as others do about going through womanly changes, putting on weight and body image.

I still go to the gym when I can and swim once a week, but my life nowadays is so different to a strict routine of being an athlete and I'm embracing not having to follow any strict schedule.

You spoke openly in your 2023 ITV documentary, Ellie Simmonds: Finding My Secret Family, which saw you track down your birth mother, a programme you won a well-deserved BAFTA for. Was that a difficult thing to do?

I can’t really talk about it, but what I do want to say is there’s so many people out there who need adoption, and who need love and families to take them in.

I want to continue to work with kids with disabilities and help them, and to shine a light on disability issues in the care system. I’ve always known that I was adopted and have been lucky to have the most incredible parents and family that have supported me throughout my life. And I’m so grateful to have my four adoptive siblings, some of whom have disabilities, as we may be different but we are just one big happy family.

Read more about Ellie Simmonds:

• Ellie Simmonds urges Strictly Come Dancing stars to 'enjoy every single second' (Bang Showbiz, 2-min read)

• Ellie Simmonds' heartbreak at mum's decision and devastating split from boyfriend (Wales Online, 4-min read)

• Ellie Simmonds: 'I can finally enjoy the Paralympics without any pressure!' (Women's Health, 6-min read)