Awards season is one of our favourite times of the year, and the Oscars brought out some truly iconic moments. But Best Actress nominee Kate Hudson turned heads when she stepped onto the Vanity Fair afterparty red carpet, showing off seriously toned abs.
This wasn’t a last-minute miracle. Hudson is known for her dedication to movement. On Table Manners with Lennie and Jessie Ware in late 2025, she admitted it’s a daily practice: ‘I’m the kind of person where, even if it’s 20 minutes a day, you’re golden’.
Her trainer, Megan Roup, also took to Instagram this week to share the exact ab routine they used in the run-up – the one responsible for that red carpet reveal. Hudson arrived in a sparkling Gucci gown with a perfectly placed cut-out that showcased the results.
We break down Kate’s routine so you can try it yourself next time you hit the gym – warning: it’s a burner.
Kate Hudson’s 6-exercise ab circuit
‘This is one of my go-to deep core circuits when I want something that’s effective and actually connects into your entire core,’ Megan wrote in the caption. It includes six exercises, performed for eight reps each, across two to three rounds. She also adds an extra challenge by placing a workout ball under her lower back to increase instability – though you can skip this if it feels too advanced.
Double pulse scissor (x8 reps)
Lying on your back with your feet in tabletop, alternate legs – lowering one to a straight position while the other bends towards your chest. To increase difficulty, hold weights directly above your shoulders. Keep your lower back pressed into the floor and imagine pulling your belly button towards your spine.
Alternating toe taps (x8 reps)
Return to tabletop and lower alternating legs to tap the floor, keeping both knees bent. To progress, move your arms overhead with weights, then return them above your shoulders.
Ball pass extension (x8 reps)
Lie on your back with one foot planted and the other leg extended upwards. As you draw the raised leg towards your chest, extend the bottom leg out. Holding a yoga ball, pass it under the raised leg during a crunch. Then switch positions, lowering the top leg and bringing the ball overhead.
Cross-body crunch with knee pull (x8 reps)
In a bicycle crunch position, hold the ball between your knee and opposite elbow. Maintain this position as you lower and raise the opposite leg.
Cross-body crunch with slice (x8 reps)
Hold a bicycle crunch position, keeping one leg straight as it lowers and lifts again.
Cross-body crunch with ball roll (x8 reps)
With one foot planted and the other leg extended upwards, hold the ball against the raised leg. Roll the ball up your leg as you crunch, then lower back down with control.
3 key things to remember when working your abs
Megan highlights a few key cues to get the most from the circuit:
1/ Exhale on the effort
Focusing on your breath helps engage your core more deeply and stabilise your spine. It also prevents you from holding tension in the wrong places.
2/ Picture a corset-like motion
Engage your transverse abdominals – the deep core muscles that wrap around your midsection – to support your spine and improve control.
3/ Move with control
Slow it down. Proper form and muscle engagement matter more than rushing through reps.
After years living with endometriosis and undergoing seven rounds of IVF, Radio 4 presenter Emma Barnett turned to training with PT Frankie Holah to rebuild strength and a more positive relationship with her body. Download the Women’s Health UK app to access Frankie’s full training plan.
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Isabelle Knevett is the Fashion Features Editor at Women’s Health, bringing a wealth of experience in media and fashion since 2019. She has led high-impact PR campaigns for global giants like Adidas and Reebok and has reported on everything from fashion analysis and shopping trends, to deep dive features and investigative reporting. A former professional dancer, she understands the value of quality gym and activewear, making her a true expert in the field. Her work has been featured in Marie Claire Australia, ELLE Australia, Australian Women’s Weekly, WHO and more. When she’s not buried in a fashion magazine or sweating it out the gym or dance studio, you’ll find her reading or writing about fashion, feminism and global politics.
