A MUM who took up pole sports to help tackle postnatal depression has scooped two gold medals in a top US competition.

Aerial and alternative dance teacher Natalie Morgan-Dew was crowned world burlesque champion in 2019 and has always practiced pole fitness.

But she has never competed in pole sports until now, and decided to "have a go" following the birth of her son during the pandemic to improve her well-being.

Natalie, who runs Mizz Twisted Cherry Studios in Ross-on-Wye, took a silver in the Southern Pole Championships back in May, and then entered the online competition in the US, scooping double gold.

She said: "I have been practising pole fitness for 14 years but although I am a world champion in burlesque, pole competitions always intimated me.

"I got pregnant just before Covid in November 2019 just after my world champion win, and then having to go to appointments on my own and having a few complications with my pregnancy took its toll on my mental health as I suffer with extreme health anxiety.

"And after the birth of my beautiful son I suffered with postnatal depression which was such a shock, because with my daughter I never suffered at all.

"I can imagine Covid and an emergency C-section exasperated it and I was left feeling extremely low.

"Pole has always been my therapy for my mental health and with more options to compete online due to the pandemic, I thought I would give it a go as it gave me something to focus on.

"And so I entered pole sports in America and won two gold medals!

"Not only is this an amazing personal goal for me, but it advocates how great pole fitness is for both mind and body, which is the reason I set up my studio, for people’s confidence, mental health and well-being.

"I feel extremely proud and lucky to be able to put Ross on the map and now all the way in America!"

Natalie’s Mizz Twisted Cherry Studios caters for ages eight to 80 years with classes on aerial hoop, trapeze, silks, pole fitness, burlesque and bespoke equipment like the aerial cube

For more information go to www.mizztwistedcherry.co.uk and on Facebook at Mizztwistedcherrystudios.