Get to Know…

An interview with Simone Round.

At With Not For, we are proud to represent some of the best, diverse, and Disabled talent in the UK. We are excited to bring you the next instalment of ‘Get To Know’, our monthly spotlight initiative to help platform the people we represent and introduce you to their unique stories. Leading the series is Claudia Rose Walder, founder of Able Zine and curator of all things related to disability culture. This month, she speaks to Simone Round.

Claudia is latinx with long dark hair parted in the middle. She looks at the camera with her chin resting on her hand, wearing bright red lipstick against as red background.

About Simone

Simone Round is a personal trainer and mindfulness coach, and the owner of her own business, Shape Up With Simone. As a former flight attendant for TUI and an entertainer for Disney Cruises, Simone’s love of both performing and travel has taken her all around the world. Her passion for movement led her to become a personal trainer before Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) altered her life course. Now, Simone uses her insight and compassion to support others in improving their mental and physical health, creating the disability representation we need to see more of in the wellness industry.

Simone is a white woman with long blonde, wavy hair. She has blue eyes and wears a black t.shirt and leather jacket, sat against a green backdrop. She’s looking to the left, smiling.

Claudia: Hi Simone, it’s so lovely to meet you! Before we get into the details, let’s start with an icebreaker! Describe yourself in three words.

Simone: I’d describe myself as a little bit “crazy”, energetic and caring.

Claudia: Can you tell me a bit about your background, personally and professionally?

Simone: I'm from Stourbridge, a little town in the West Midlands. I've lived there my whole life. I went to drama school and a performing arts college in London for a year. I've always loved the performing arts and entertainment. After that, I worked at Butlins for four years as a Red Coat, and there I became a performer, host, presenter, and DJ - I did it all! And then I worked for Disney Cruise Line for 4 years as a DJ and host on a cruise ship. It was amazing. I was the first female DJ they ever had on board, so that was a massive achievement.

Claudia: When did you transition from performing to a career in fitness?

Simone: Well, I came off the cruise ship because I had a back injury. I'm laughing because it was from squatting. We did a squat challenge, and the bar slid off. But I wasn't disabled after that injury; I was just injured. So I thought, what can I do now? I've always been so physical, so I came back to the UK to study to be a personal trainer (PT). I set up my own business in 2018, but I soon began to reconsider whether I really wanted to do this. That’s when I joined TUI and became a cabin crew member for 6 months. Through that experience, I realised, I'm a sea girl, not a sky girl. It just wasn't for me. I didn't like the hours; you're not really seeing the places. It taught me a lot, though, especially about health and safety. So I did my six-month season, left, and went back to personal training. And that’s when my business took off, as I could work virtually during COVID. 

Simone is sitting in her powerchair with one leg crossed over the other, her elbow on the knee and hand supporting her chin.

Claudia: If you're comfortable talking about it, when did your experience with disability manifest?

Simone: I was working at a gym as both an assistant manager and a PT. It was very long hours, from 10 am to 10 pm. I had done a squat at the gym, 150 kg, a good squat, and I was buzzing about it. But I felt really weird after. I've always had tremors, I've got a central tremor, and I've always had migraines, so the warning signs were there, but I ignored them. I collapsed at home, and it just spiralled. It manifested into Functional Neurological Disorder, and I've got a lot of other disabilities along with it – things that I didn't even know would be affected, like bladder function, speech; I have episodes of not being able to speak or stammer. That was four years ago. I've just been adapting to life since then.

Claudia: Adapting is an ongoing process, especially with chronic and unpredictable illnesses. What does life look like now?

Simone: In terms of my mobility, I can walk short distances, but it’s changed my life a lot. I grew up with family members who were in wheelchairs. We used to go on holidays and things like that, but I never realised firsthand what it is like to be a wheelchair user and the stigma that’s associated with it. So if I can raise awareness, that's my main goal with everything; that's what I try to do with my platform and things on social media. I also still try to volunteer whenever possible. For example, I offer mindfulness sessions free of charge or create small fitness plans for those who need support. But I’ve had to accept that I can’t give as much as I used to. Through this process, I realised I was giving too much of myself and the toll it was taking on my body. That awareness has been important for me.

Representation

Claudia:  Let’s talk about disability representation in fitness. You've transitioned from being a non-disabled person to a disabled person in that world. How's that shift been for you?

Simone: Absolutely. I do think that disabled people aren't represented enough in the fitness industry. As a PT, I was really fit, with abs and everything. And now the physical element of it has changed for me. I feel like I don't look like a personal trainer now. You do see disabled people or wheelchair users in the fitness industry who are ultra-fit, doing pull-ups with their wheelchairs. But there aren’t many people in the middle ground. There's one influencer I follow, Sophie Butler, and she's brilliant. To me, she's the epitome of what fitness and wellness should be in the disabled community.

Simone is stood with one hand in the pocket of her jeans. In the other hand, she’s holding her floral patterned walking stick.

Claudia: Do you work with your clients differently now?

Simone: I've made plans for people who are seated. I also have a lot more chronically ill clients, and that's really helped, because I physically understand now. Before, I would help them, but I don't think I truly understood concepts like pacing. Currently, I’ve got a client who's got Crohn's. If she can't physically do anything for two weeks, that’s okay. It's about allowing our bodies to rest and then return to it, because we're not going to be any good if we're pushing through a flare-up. So I allowed that two-week break, and we'll reconvene and go from there, using less inflammatory movements and tools like low-impact weights. I always think a little of something is better than nothing.

Claudia: What are your future goals and aspirations?

Simone: Currently, physically working out is really hard for me, so my goal would be to push myself and get back into the gym to show up and represent for other people. To show how we can do this and change people's perspectives. I just want to advocate, really. If I can share my story and it helps one person, I'll keep sharing it every day until someone listens. That's what I really want to do. Similarly, when it comes to presenting, speaking, and similar things, it’s purely to raise awareness. I think it's my mission. I believe that things have been sent to us.

Claudia: So I hear you’re actually related to our co-founder, Kelly! You recently interviewed her on your new podcast, Cool & Chronic, which readers can listen to here. Why did you decide to start a podcast?

Simone: I started the podcast to talk about the real experiences of living with chronic illness. As someone who is chronically ill and a wheelchair user, I want to create a space where people can share their battles, resilience, and stories that often go unheard. It’s about raising awareness, building understanding, and reminding others that they are not alone in their journey. I named it ‘Cool & Chronic’ to take back power. ‘Chronic’ doesn’t define me in a negative way – it’s part of my story. And ‘cool’ reminds me that I’m still me, still worthy, still strong, no matter what my body is going through.

Simone wears a hot pink blazer and gold earrings. She’s looking straight into the camera as a hand is applying blusher with a large brush on her cheek.

Claudia: What does it mean to you to be represented by With Not For?

Simone: Well, firstly, because it’s family! I’m so proud of Kelly. And two, it’s in the name, it’s what everyone in the disabled community wants in terms of being represented by people who get it and who understand. Kelly and Emma know what you’re up against and what you’re facing. I think that's really important.

Claudia: How can people support your work?

Simone: You can follow my business on social media, Shape up with Simone. I've got a TikTok as well, it’s called Shake Up with Simone, because now I shake everywhere like Beyoncé. ;)

Claudia: Thanks for sharing your story, Simone, and we look forward to seeing all you accomplish with Shape Up with Simone and Cool & Chronic!

Claudia Rose Walder Martinez is a multidisciplinary creative whose work spans art, fashion, literature, print and digital media. She is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of Able Zine, a publication and platform dedicated to promoting disability arts, culture, and representation. 

Image credits: Photography, Mathushaa Sagthidas. Makeup, Aster Rose.