Channel 4 presenter Sarah Mulindwa felt ‘empowered’ returning to Covid frontline

Channel 4 presenter Sarah Mulindwa has revealed how she felt “empowered” returning to frontline nursing during the Covid pandemic.

Mulindwa, who presents The Sex Clinic, went back to her old job at West Middlesex Hospital in Isleworth to help out during the crisis and said it was the “hardest thing she had ever done mentally and physically”.

The star, from Peckham, shared pictures of her in full PPE while working as a nurse ahead of International Women’s Day on Tuesday.

She said: “I feel most empowered when I’m making a difference in the lives of others.

“The last two years have been challenging for all of us and for me being able to return back to the frontline during the pandemic was the most empowered I’ve felt.

“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done both mentally and physically, but in retrospect I feel proud to be part of such an amazing organisation like the NHS working alongside incredibly brilliant female nurses and doctors.”

Mulindwa has returned to her “day job” as an NHS sexual health nurse which she combines with her TV duties.

She is one of 50 high-profile women sharing their stories on sexual wellbeing company Lovehoney’s Wall of Female Empowerment, which has been created for International Women’s Day.

Each woman who features talks about what it means to be a woman and the situations that make them feel most empowered.

Other stars on the wall include former Hollyoaks star Sarah Jayne Dunn, who said she feels most empowered when “inspiring other people”.

Model Naomi Native said being around other women gives her a confidence boost, adding: “The unspoken sisterhood is so powerful.”

She added: “Black plus size women face sanctions and censorship for just existing in our bodies, resulting in hyper-sexualisation and body shaming.”

Johanna Rief, Head of Sexual Empowerment at Lovehoney, said that being surrounded by feminists in her personal and professional life made her feel empowered.

Those working in the sexual wellness industry battled all the time against censorship, she said.

Rief said: “Censorship comes from centuries of oppression and policing, resulting in false or no information on female sexuality and feelings of shame.

“I try to explain why this is very problematic and why being in control of your sexuality and enjoying it to the fullest is an essential part of a self-determined life. Communication helps to normalise it and thus break the censorship of female sexuality.”