ALEXANDRA Burke wore a breast pump under her costume at the Notting Hill Carnival to encourage other mothers to be confident in parenthood.
In her first appearance as a new mum, famous pop star Alexandra sported a glitzy black leotard and a pair of carnival wings.
Alexandra Burke wore a breast pump under her costume at the Notting Hill Carnival[/caption]
The popstar wants to encourage mothers to be confident in parenthood[/caption]
Alexandra, 34 – who welcomed her first child in July with her boyfriend, West Ham’s Darren Randolph – looked incredible in the fishnet tights as she danced in the parade.
The actress and singer has teamed up with Elvie to put ‘pumps on parade’ after new research shows that 45 per cent of women lose their sense of self when breastfeeding, and two thirds give up activities they love as a new mum.
On a mission to bust taboos around breastfeeding and pumping in public and empower new mums to take part in all life has to offer, no matter what their feeding journey looks like, the campaign was partly inspired by Alexandra’s experiences.
“I absolutely loved being pregnant and I’m having the best time being a mum – so when Elvie approached me to take part and put pumps on parade, I just knew I had to do it,” Alexandra said.
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“I think every mum is a little nervous about getting out and about again after giving birth.
“I’ve felt it, especially as I’ve been in a complete bubble at home since the little one arrived.
“Today at Carnival I’m feeling proud to be alongside The Utopia Band and wearing the Elvie Stride breast pump.
“And having been the first-ever ambassador, Notting Hill Carnival has a special place in my heart. It’s an incredible environment and experience to be immersed in, where all cultures come together and feel as one through great music, food and good vibes.”
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Showing off her incredible figure in the showstopping ensemble, Alexandra added: “For me, being in the parade pumping is one of the most empowering things I could ever do.
“Women should know there’s nothing to be ashamed of. Breastfeeding and pumping in public spaces has often been shamed by society and whilst we have seen significant progress, there’s still not enough conversation about the stigmas associated with motherhood, and women more broadly.
“I hope this empowers every mum out there to know they can be an amazing mum, and still have the freedom to be who they are.”
It comes after Alexandra shared her first photo of her baby as she cradled the tot on a birthday trip to Monte-Carlo.
The new mum looked adoringly at her baby in the sweet photo.
Alexandra wrote: “This is 34 
Thank you for all the lovely messages today 
”
Alexandra met and fell for Darren in May of last year and announced in February that they were expecting.
The West End star, who has had leading roles in Chicago and The Bodyguard since winning The X Factor in 2008, recently revealed she is planning to take minimal maternity leave before rejoining the touring production of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat on September 12.
Rather than put her feet up, Alexandra had until recently continued to perform eight shows a week as the stage production’s narrator.
The singer, who came runner-up on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2017 with pro dancer Gorka Márquez, will later join Julian Clary and Dawn French in Jack And The Beanstalk at the London Palladium in November.
She became a household name after her X Factor winner’s single, a cover of Jeff Buckley’s 1994 song Hallelujah, broke the European record for the most singles sold in 24 hours.
It was 2008’s Christmas No1 and, when Alexandra released her debut album Overcome the next year, she topped the charts again.
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The record has since sold over 1million copies and will be released on vinyl for the first time later this year.
Her hits Bad Boys and Start Without You also reached the top spot
She welcomed her first child in July with her boyfriend Darren Randolph[/caption]
