Boxer Daniella Hemsley made headlines over the weekend by flashing her breasts after a fight, but few know the story behind her impressive transformation.
Hemsley defeated Aleksandra Daniel on points over the weekend at Dublin’s 3Arena before celebrating in a unique style. The adult content creator flashed her breasts to the camera and went viral with her actions.
But her celebrations shouldn’t undermine her boxing performance, and indeed the journey she went on to reach that stage.
Hemsley was previously overweight, admitting to eating ‘up to 8,000 calories in one sitting’, but that was before she overcame her mental health issues, finding escape through fitness.
Speaking to the Daily Mail last year, she said: “My parents separated when I was 12 – it was during my transition to high school from primary school – and it really affected me. I felt very alone and turned to food for comfort as it was my escape. I would just eat and get bigger.
“I’d be eating up to 8,000 calories in one sitting: a whole pack of biscuits, six bags of crisps, a whole chocolate bar, and ice cream. I’d eat beyond being full and then would be in agony due to eating so much.”
Hemsley went on to find fitness, becoming an internet personality along the way and gaining around 350,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok.
“One day something just clicked – both of my sisters are very slim and never struggled with weight or eating – but something inside me said enough is enough and I did something about it,” she recalled.
“Six months later I joined a gym, not knowing anything other than the treadmill. I learnt some exercises from one of the personal trainers who offered to help me, and at that point I really got into it and started lifting weights.
“I really got into my fitness and by this point I’d lost four stone. I was doing research into fitness and nutrition and started bodybuilding at 16, working out and focusing on what I was eating.”
Hemsley has since said she wants to use her platforms and online presence to help inspire others to make their own improvements.
Hemsley made her boxing debut against Brazilian star Jully Poca in April earlier this year, which didn’t go too well for her as she lost after five rounds. However, it is understandable that her debut would be tough and, now, despite sealing her recent win in controversial style, it could be the start of a promising career.
That is perhaps why she celebrated in such an uncontrolled fashion on Sunday, although it is not seen as a good excuse by many in the industry, who prefer if she were to focus on her boxing rather than on publicity stunts.
Not all have been impressed with Hemsley and her actions, far from it in fact, with boxing promoter Eddie Hearn calling out the influencer for her flashy boxing appearance.
Fresh criticism
“I think if I start preaching people just moan at me anyway, but you always ask me my opinion. And my opinion is I hate it,” Hearn told Boxing Social.
“I hate it, we’ve worked so hard for women in boxing to be respected for their ability, for their merits, for their hard work. One thing we must understand is that ain’t boxing.
“And that needs to be pushed, all that stuff, Misfits, Kingpyn, it needs to be booted so far away from professional boxing and we really need to disassociate ourselves with what it is.”