Pia Miller: 'I'm still self-conscious'

She's often seen in a bikini on Home And Away, but Summer Bay sweetheart Pia Miller admits it can still be daunting to strip down on set.

Speaking to Be to promote her involvement in the new BONDS Comfytails range, the 33-year-old actress says: "I still have my moments when I am self-conscious, we all do".

But the former Logie nominee, who plays policewoman Katerina Chapman on the Channel Seven soap, says her confidence has grown over time since she joined the show in 2014.

"I overcome this particularly on set by flipping the way I look at it – I tell myself, 'It's Kat! She loves a swim she loves the ocean and she doesn't mind getting in her bikini and bodysurfing on a few waves'," Pia explains to Be.

The mother-of-two's exercise regime is structured to fit in with her busy work schedule and family life.

"I used to train with a trainer three or so times a week when the kids still lived in Melbourne however, since moving to Sydney and with my huge Home and Away shooting schedule, the time I have to spend on exercise has sadly, decreased," she admits.

"If I can, I’ll head to Pilates or yoga once a week but if not, I have a mat at home and a mat in my dressing room that I practice on in between scenes or in the evening.

"My boys are the priority in my downtime so we try to do it together, whether that’s heading down to the beach for a swim or to the park to kick the footy. Every bit counts and it’s always fun doing it together!"

Also opening up on her diet, Pia tells Be: "I eat relatively healthy and treat myself when I want. I try to follow an 80/20 rule – 80% healthy and 20% treat".

"Balance is key and depriving yourself doesn’t achieve ultimate results physically or mentally," she adds.

"I’m naturally curvy and I think it’s important to embrace that. My favourite go-to foods are avocado, coffee with macadamia milk and healthy Mexican food and my vices are chocolate and of course, wine."

Meanwhile Pia certainly exudes confidence in her new shoot for BONDS, promoting its Comfytails range, "for women who’ve outgrown uncomfortable".

In the shoot, Pia is seen relaxing in bed while modelling the collection, and admits she prefers these underwear basics over elaborately laced or bedazzled skimpy underwear that's often typically viewed as "sexy".

"On a more practical level, I am a sucker for comfy underwear over ‘sexy’ underwear. Life is too short to be lived uncomfortable," she tells Be.

"There is nothing more empowering than a woman who is comfortable and I mean that in more ways than one! Comfort on all levels leads to creating confidence which in turn I think, is sexy!"

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