‘Not easy in that storm’: Michelle Bridges throws her support behind Kate Ritchie

Fitness guru Michelle Bridges has thrown her support behind Nova radio host Kate Ritchie, who was caught on camera having a very public meltdown.

Fitness guru Michelle Bridges has thrown her support behind Kate Ritchie, who was caught on camera having a very public meltdown.

Bridges, who has gone through her own personal struggles while all eyes were on her, has assured the Nova radio host that the country is behind her because people know what a “genuine” and “authentic” person she is.

She has noticed the outpouring of support for Ritchie, who this week said her mental health issues were “deeply personal” and had “proven to be a bigger challenge” than she imagined.

“It’s not easy when you’re sitting in that storm, but I think the general public can smell insincerity at 100 paces,” said Bridges, who will feature at the So Hot Right Now menopause summit in Sydney on March 1.

Michelle Bridges will feature at the So Hot Right Now menopause summit in Sydney on March 1. Picture: supplied

“They can smell inauthenticity at 100 paces, and they can see when someone’s life is being put out everywhere and know that
it wouldn’t be a great place to be in.

“The general public are beautiful and incredible and will always see the wood through the trees, so to speak.”

Bridges is set to join panellists including Dr Mary Claire Haver and Dr Kelly Casperson at the Opera House event, which will redefine and re-educate on perimenopause and menopause as pivotal moments in women’s health.

“These women have an incredible depth of knowledge,” Bridges said.

“I am a massive fan-girl. I’m blown away that I get the privilege to sit among these women.”

Model Elle Macpherson, fashion designer Pip Edwards and actor Naomi Watts are just a few of the women who have shone the spotlight on perimenopause and menopause in recent months.

“Our generation is a loud one,” Bridges said. “We won’t accept being told to get back up and get on with it. We expect more and deserve more.

“Most doctors will openly tell you that when they did their university degree, some have done an eight-year degree and did not get any training on this topic.

“Let’s face it, it is a third of your life and it is half the population.

“If we said to men, by the time you get to 51, 52 your testicles will shrivel up and you won’t have much sex drive, you’ll put on a bit of weight, you might get moody, they’d pull all the funding from those darn submarines and put it into finding out what’s going on.

“It is the good fight, and we have some incredible specialists helping.”