
Ally Head
Ally Head is Marie Claire UK's Senior Health and Sustainability Editor, a nine-time marathoner, and a Boston Qualifying runner. With nine years of editorial experience under her belt, she has a keen eye for a story, a passion for digital journalism, and is always innovating and pushing boundaries with how online content should be delivered to ensure her pillars are consistent top performers. Day-to-day, she manages a team of freelancers and works across site strategy, features, and e-commerce, overseeing all health and sustainability content, commissioning strategy, and reporting and effortlessly sustaining growth. She spearheads MC UK's yearly Women in Sport covers, interviewing and shooting athletes including Mary Earps, Millie Bright, Daryll Neita, and Lavaia Nielsen, and also oversees the brand's Start The Year Strong anti-fad January health campaign. She regularly hosts panels and presents for events such as the MC Sustainability Awards, alongside presenting for her two regular franchises, Decoded and Wellness Wins. The first is an Instagram franchise where she interviews fitness royalty, including the likes of Kayla Itsines, Jillian Michaels, and Doctor Julie Smith, in front of millions of followers, and her newest addition, Wellness Wins, shines a spotlight on the latest must-try wellness products that she's genuinely tried and loved. Before joining MC, she freelanced for the likes of Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Grazia, The Telegraph, Refinery29, Stylist, Good Housekeeping, and more. Prior to that, she was headhunted to lead digital strategy at Foodism. Her first ever journalism job was at Women's Health, where she worked for three years and headed up their nutrition content, cutting through the clean eating noise and enlisting qualified dieticians and nutritionists to give their take on everything from protein shakes to probiotic gut health supplements. Shortlisted for three BSME awards, she won one in 2022 for her work in the sustainability sphere and scooped a Future Editorial Excellence award in 2025, too. She has an MA in Magazine Journalism from City University and a BA in English Language from the University of Birmingham. While at Birmingham, she was Head of Marketing for student radio station Burn FM and Travel Editor at the student newspaper, Redbrick, winning Article of the Year for a long read about living in New York in 2015. When she's not writing, she's training for her next race or hunting down a good pastry. Follow Ally on Instagram for more.
Latest articles by Ally Head
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8 Forms of Mental Health Help That Promise to Calm Your Mind, Whatever You’re Currently Facing
This Mental Health Awareness Day, know you are never alone.
By Ally Head
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Fitness Trackers Can Look Good, Too – 16 That Our MC UK Editors Genuinely Wear Day In, Day Out
Tried and tested by Team MC UK.
By Ally Head
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Forget Gym Memberships - These Are Officially The Best Walking Pads For Transforming Your WFH Fitness
Tried and tested by Team MC UK.
By Ally Head
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As a Health Editor, I Regularly Ignore Viral Fitness Trends – but I’m Totally Sold on the Winter Arc Challenge
This one gets my seal of approval.
By Ally Head
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Joe Wicks is Waging a War Against Ultra Processed Foods – but Experts Warn It’s Not All Black and White
He's launched "the UK's most dangerous health bar" in a bid to educate on the ultra-processed foods flooding our systems.
By Ally Head
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It’s Getting Chilly Out: 14 Best Running Jackets You Can Buy, Tested by Fitness Experts
Fashionable and functional? Yes, please.
By Ally Head
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On the Hunt for the Best Running Shoes? I’m a Marathon Runner Who’s Tested Nearly 1000 Pairs – My Definitive Pick
For every distance, budget and gait.
By Ally Head
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We’re Notoriously Fussy Editors – Enter: Our Pick of the 19 Best Gym Leggings You Can Buy
We've tested thousands between us and these are, hands down, the best.
By Ally Head
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The Red Roses Victory Wraps an Unforgettable Year for Women’s Sports – but the Movement is Just Getting Started
Female athletes are tearing up the history books and defining the future of women's sports, one win at a time.
By Ally Head
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It's PCOS Awareness Month: Your Guide to the Common Female Health Condition, Plus Toolkit For Easing Symptoms
Polycystic ovary syndrome affects millions of women in the UK and around the world – so what actually is it?
By Ally Head
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I’m a Female Health Doctor Who Spent Two Years Trying To Get a PCOS Diagnosis – 7 Things I've Learned About Advocating for Yourself
Here, Dr Hazel Wallace shares the things she wishes she'd known sooner about advocating for your own health.
By Ally Head
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Trust Us, We Use Them Every Day Without Fail - 10 Best Exercise Headphones for All Types of Workout
Starting at just £31.
By Amelia Yeomans
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Trust Me, I’m a Sustainability Editor – 15 Stylish and Sustainable Launches That I Can’t Stop Thinking About RN
It isn’t all doom and gloom - these chic launches will make lowering your footprint seriously simple.
By Ally Head
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35 B Corp Brands to Have on Your Radar to Help You Shop More Sustainably
Shop smart this Secondhand September and help save our planet.
By Ally Head
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As the New This Girl Can Campaign Launches – Meet the Inspirational Women Using Movement as Medicine
Women’s wellbeing continues to be underfunded, unsupported, and underchampioned - but This Girl Can is determined to change that.
By Ally Head
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In Celebration of Secondhand September – Your Guide to the Challenge, Plus How You Can Get Involved
Join Jameela Jamil in fighting throwaway fashion - for good.
By Ally Head
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So Long, Dehydration: 8 Best Electrolyte Products To Boost Muscle Recovery and Heatwave Hydration
Trust me on this one.
By Ally Head
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Tatyana Heard on Her Standout Career Successes, Setbacks, and Hopes for the Upcoming Rugby World Cup
Meet one of England’s most recognised and celebrated female rugby players.
By Ally Head
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UK Pharmacists May Be Able to Prescribe Ozempic Very Soon - We Asked Over-Stretched Clinicians for Their Honest Thoughts
A good move or a damaging one?
By Ally Head
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Workout Leggings With Pockets Are Game-Changing – I Test Kit for a Living and These Are, Hands Down, the 15 Best Pairs
Starting from £14.99.
By Ally Head
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On the Hunt for the Best Protein Powder for Women? 12 a Health Editor Uses to Boost Satiety and Build Muscle
Let the gains, begin.
By Ally Head
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As Taylor Swift Opens Up About How Gruelling Her Eras Tour Training Was – I Tried Her 3+ Hour Treadmill Workout
Last week, she shared from never-seen-before insights on her boyfriend's podcast, New Heights.
By Ally Head
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Trust Me, I’m a Health Editor Who’s Tested Extensively - These Are the Best 8 Pairs of Hiking Boots and Shoes You Can Buy
Hot girl walks, here you come.
By Ally Head
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I’m a Health Editor Who’s Tried 100’s of Shoes – These Are Officially the Best Gym Trainers You Can Buy
For running, weight training, walking, and more.
By Ally Head
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“It’s Not All Gold Medals and Trophies”: What It’s Really Like Being a Top Female Athlete in 2025
Female athletes are more likely to report anxiety, depression, distress, and disordered eating than their male counterparts - but these women are determined to change the narrative.
By Ally Head
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I’m a Workout-Obsessed Health Editor – and On Is One of My Go-To Brands. 5 Activewear Items I Can't Stop Wearing RN
Slick, stylish, and supportive? Tick, tick, tick.
By Ally Head
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The Lionesses Just Won Their Second Euros Final - an Unprecedented and Unrivalled Achievement. So Why Do Some Men Have Such An Issue With It?
They achieved the unimaginable - but as ever with women's sport, there's hatred among the euphoria.
By Ally Head