Beverley Knight says music bosses held a meeting about her weight, focusing on aesthetics over wellbeing

Beverley Knight says music executives held a meeting about her weight at the height of her fame, a moment she says centered on appearance rather than her wellbeing.

The 51-year-old singer, celebrated as a leading figure in British soul, described how personal turmoil at home coincided with changes in her figure, yet she says those concerns were treated as a matter of image. Knight told the Daily Mail that she was not part of the meeting but was told about it, and that the discussion reflected a broader industry pattern where aesthetics trumped mental health.

'I remember there was a meeting to discuss my weight, which was interesting. I was not a part of that meeting, but I was told about it!' Knight said. 'It's interesting, because I'm a healthy woman, and I was a healthy woman back then. I was bigger because there was stuff going on, yet no one cared about the issues that were underlying – all they cared about was the aesthetic, and that's the problem. When we start to care solely about the aesthetic in people and not if the artist is ok, or their mental health is well, then we've got huge problems.'

Asked whether there were secret plans to put her on a diet, she replied: 'If they were, thankfully, I didn't hear about it. I would have kicked up. I was not the kind of artist who would have swallowed that.' She added that society still judges bodies harshly: 'We still live in a society where people are judged for being too thin, too fat or whatever it might be.'

Knight has long balanced a career across music and theatre, from her debut album The B-Funk (1995) to later successes in West End productions such as The Bodyguard and Memphis. In recent years she has spoken about the pressures faced by female artists in the industry, a theme highlighted by the BBC documentary Girlbands Forever. The series examines the experiences of women in contemporary girl groups and traces the pressures that plagued bands in the 1990s and 2000s, including accounts from former members of All Saints, Little Mix and Atomic Kitten, as the program offers a female-focused counterpoint to Boybands Forever.

The reflections come as Knight discusses her life beyond the stage. She described a shift toward cleaner living, wellness and a teetotal lifestyle as part of her personal receta for resilience. 'Clean-living, wellness, happiness and a good man on my arm, I am teetotal — I’ve never drank alcohol,' she said, adding that these choices have contributed to how she feels about her health and her performance.

Knight was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2007 for her contributions to music and charity. She recalled Queen Elizabeth II’s interaction on that day: the monarch asked about her love of music and whether it had enabled her to travel, followed by a firm handshake signaling the end of the audience. She acknowledged that the honour, while significant, had a personal impact as well, saying it felt like something that had 'burgled' from her home in 2021, though she hopes to recover it.

Looking ahead, Knight remains focused on theatre and music projects. She expressed a dream of someday playing Aretha Franklin on stage: 'My dream role hasn’t been written yet. I want someone to write the stage version of Aretha Franklin’s life. I’d love to do that, I think it would be amazing!' The star noted that while Aretha’s voice remains an inspiration, the stage adaptation would require a new, powerful narrative built for a live audience.

The actress-singer also referenced Girlbands Forever as part of a broader conversation about how women in pop have been treated within bands. Melanie Blatt of All Saints, for instance, has discussed past pressures, including being urged to terminate a pregnancy during the band's heyday. Nighting her own experiences, Knight underscores the need for industry change that respects mental health and personal boundaries rather than reducing artists to appearances.

In summary, Knight’s remarks illustrate a continuing dialogue about body image, health, and power within the music business. As she continues performing and pursuing theatre roles, she emphasizes wellness and authenticity as guiding principles for a career that spans decades.