Keke Palmer opens up about reconnecting with her body after welcoming son Leo

Keke Palmer is opening up about how motherhood helped her reconnect with her body and embrace a more grounded approach to life.

The actress, 32, discussed her wellness journey during a conversation with Whoopi Goldberg at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival Storyteller event in New York City on June 8.

The discussion explored Palmer’s evolving relationship with fame, social media, and self-care, as well as how becoming a mother reshaped her daily priorities.

Palmer welcomed her son, Leodis “Leo” Andrellton Jackson, in February 2023.

She shared that the experience of childbirth prompted her to reconnect with her physical and emotional well-being in a more intentional way.

“After I had my son, I started to think about everything differently, and obviously I need to get back in touch with my body because [pregnancy is] such an out-of-body experience,” Palmer said during the conversation.

She explained that she began practicing Pilates as part of her postpartum routine, which helped her feel more present and in tune with herself.

Through the practice, Palmer said she realized she had been “unconsciously” disconnected from her body before motherhood, and that mindful movement helped her rebuild that connection.

“It kind of showed me myself in a way that then I felt like it made me better in my daily life,” she added.

The I Love Boosters actress also reflected on how becoming a mother changed her outlook on life and responsibility.

“There’s no messing around… your child makes you present,” she said. “I got to just make sure that I’m good today, and I got to make sure that I’m really showing up for me because somebody needs me.”

Palmer described motherhood as a grounding force that has helped her better understand what she deserves in life, simply through the act of loving her child.

Beyond parenting, Palmer has also been focused on building a sustainable wellness lifestyle that extends beyond traditional fitness routines.

Her journey inspired the launch of her digital wellness platform, Practice by Palmer, which offers personalized tools for mental and physical well-being.

Palmer explained that the goal of the platform is to share the same practices that have helped her stay balanced and grounded in her own life.

The actress said her approach to wellness is not about perfection or vanity, but about long-term emotional and physical stability that can be integrated into everyday life.

Through both motherhood and her wellness work, Keke Palmer says she is continuing to focus on presence, balance, and becoming the most “embodied” version of herself.