Name:
Chaka Khan (born Yvette Marie Stevens)

Date of birth:
March 23, 1953

Hometown:
Chicago, USA

Diabetes Type:
Type 2

Queen of Funk, Chaka Khan was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2011 which she fought against with an impressive 4 stone loss of weight after finding out.

The singer, who was born Yvette Marie Stevens in Chicago in 1953, started her career in the funk band Rufus in the early seventies.

The band enjoyed a string of number ones on the American R&B charts and achieved platinum status with the 1974 album Rags to Rufus.

In 1978, Chaka opted to go solo and accomplished success, notably with the 1984 UK one, ‘I Feel for You’.

After spending over 40 years in the music business, Chaka continues to record and perform.

She has sold over 70 million records and amongst her most enduring hits are ‘I Feel for You’, ‘Ain’t Nobody’ and ‘I’m Every Woman’.

Vegan juicing diet key to her weight loss

Showing she can meet any challenge, Chaka Khan successfully battled against high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes by losing 60 pounds (4.3 stones or 27kg).

The star puts her impressive weight loss down to cutting out meat and dairy from her diet and going onto a vegan diet Her diet started off with a 4 month juicing diet before she went back onto solid food.

Chaka cites her granddaughter as being the inspiration for her to lose her excess body weight and slim down to a healthy BMI , stating: “[She] was really my first and major influence to lose weight and get healthy so I can be here for her.”

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