The Model Advocate’s mission is to inspire and motivate people to lead healthy and happy lives. Our expert nutrition, fitness and lifestyle tips are designed to give you the tools to enable you to be the best you. We aim to keep up to date on the latest scientific studies and incorporate what we believe works into our posts.

Editorial

Shona Hampel
Founder

Model: Shona won a national modelling competition aged 16 in association with Cosmopolitan magazine and Storm Model Management. She worked for a variety of high fashion brands (including Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana and Ben De Lisi) as a catwalk and editorial model before leaving the fashion industry to focus on her legal studies.

Advocate: Shona has an LLB (first class honours) from King’s College London and was awarded an academic fellowship to study for an LLM at Harvard Law School. After qualifying as a UK solicitor and US attorney (New York Bar), she worked as a lawyer for Linklaters, before quitting the City to raise her three children. After regaining her pre-pregnancy body, Shona returned to modelling part-time as it was easier to combine with motherhood than law. The Model Advocate was founded out of her desire to share all the lifestyle tips that worked for her.

Mary Van Der Westhuizen
Nutritionist

Mary has an MA (oxon) from Oxford University. She is a fully qualified Nutritional Therapist, a member of The British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy (BANT) and is registered with the Complimentary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) which is supported by the Department of Health. As well as editing the EAT section of TMA, Mary regularly contributes to parenting magazines and websites on pre and postnatal nutrition. She is Mumfidential’s Nutrition Expert and runs baby weaning workshops for Lulubaby. Prior to her four years studying nutrition, Mary spent eight years working in the City as a lawyer for Linklaters and Merrill Lynch.

Jonny Lomax
Fitness Trainer

Jonathan has an MA (hons) from Edinburgh University. He gained his first REPs level 3 Personal Training Qualification in 2000 and since then has gained qualifications from all over the world allowing him member status in fitness industry bodies worldwide from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the Federation Internationale Des Sports Aerobics Et Fitness (FISAF) as well as an honorary member for the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine (BASEM). He is the founder and CEO of Lomax Bespoke Health Ltd,  a fitness, nutrition and wellbeing business. As well as editing the MOVE section of TMA, Jonathan regularly contributes to magazines and websites on all aspects of personal training and on the fitness industry in general. Prior to his 15 years in the fitness industry, Jonathan worked in advertising and financial services.

Zanna Van Dijk
Fitness Trainer

Zanna is a first class honours graduate from the University of Sheffield. She has level 3 personal trainer status, and diplomas in sports conditioning, indoor cycling and circuit training. She is also a fitness model, fitness blogger, fitness event host, speaker and writer, and has worked with many big brands including Nike, Nutri Bullet and Adidas and has filmed with Feel Unique, Sky News, Mens Health and Fit & Well. She is an international fitness model signed with W Athletic, is the female face of the Tommy Hilfiger sports capsule collection, and the cover model and feature contributor for The SundayTimes Style “how to get fit” new year article. She is due to release her own Activewear collection in collaboration with Sports Philosophy later this year.

Zanna has been featured as one of Women’s Health magazines top fitness bloggers and one of Women’s Fitness magazines “Ones to watch in 2016.” She has released two recipe eBooks and launched the #girlgains movement which brings together hundreds of women at large events and empowers them to become fitter, healthier and happier.

Creative & Operations