Strictly star Zara McDermott reveals extreme lengths she goes to to avoid embarrassing wardrobe malfunction on show
STRICTLY Come Dancing beauty Zara McDermott has put full trust in the show’s costume team to keep her curves from spilling out of skimpy outfits.
The reality TV regular and documentary maker, partnered with hunky Italian pro dancer Graziano di Prima, has revealed she feels more empowered in her sequins each week.
She said: “You are literally strapped in, so nothing pops out. You do a dress run before to make sure that everything stays perfect.
“I’m definitely happy to wear whatever the team decides is right. Hopefully that body confidence will grow week on week.
“I’ve never used my body in this way. I’ve never danced before, so this is a massive step out of my comfort zone. I’m just happy to see what they create for me each week.”
Zara, 26, who has a social media following of almost two million, is Strictly’s first former Love Islander, having taken part in the ITV2 dating show in 2018.
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But it seems she is yet to find her feet, as last weekend she ended up in the bottom two alongside radio host Nikita Kanda, though she survived.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun on Sunday, Zara said: “It’s strange, because you come off your dance on this huge high.
“I was so happy with myself and how I did — how we did — then reality sets in. It was scary, a really scary, grounding moment, but that feeling of getting through . . . I was crying.
“There was this wave of relief and gratitude. You can’t take any week for granted — if you start thinking about the weeks ahead then you’re never going to enjoy the moment.
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“I take everything day by day. I don’t think anyone wants to leave — everyone is incredible. All I can do is work my absolute hardest. We have put in hours of training — yesterday we did 8am until 9pm — we work so hard.
“I am starting from scratch each week so I have lots of work to do. I can only be happy with how I’ve done each week and not worry about what happens next.”
Graziano, 29, doubles down on Zara’s dedication to training, adding: “In six series of Strictly I have never seen someone put in so much work.
“She has been incredible, even asking me to do more hours. The most important thing is she has done her best, and whatever happens, I am going to be happy.”
Last night the couple performed the Viennese waltz.
Zara credits Graziano for building her confidence on the dance floor, saying: “This routine, and Graziano has done an amazing job, is a stepping stone for my confidence because you can smile and laugh around the dance floor, but this is a serious thing.
“Taking on a character each week will help me because there’s a performance side to the dance. I’m working on the sass and attitude.”
Zara has been dating Made In Chelsea’s Sam Thompson for four years and said: “He is so supportive. He came to our rehearsals the other day. I felt we needed a bit of energy. He came in full steam and gave us a good afternoon pick-me-up.”
Sam, 31, has also bonded with Graziano, featuring him in several of his comedy social media videos. Graziano, who is married to Italian pro dancer Giada Lini, said: “I love Sam so much.
“The energy he gives us, he picks us up a lot. He was screaming, ‘Babe, that’s sharp’. He’s very competitive.”
As for nerves, Zara said: “If you say to anyone who’s never danced before that you are going to be dancing in front of millions of people on live national television this Saturday, you could easily get overwhelmed by that thought.
“I’m just trying to take things step by step in my mind so I don’t overwhelm myself.”
A gym addict, Zara was initially shocked by how tough the training was. She said: “In the first week my body was in absolute bits. I know what it feels like to have muscles aching, but these are muscles that I didn’t even know existed.”
Zara, who has made documentaries about revenge porn and rape, hopes fans of her programmes will be inspired by watching her dance on TV.
She said: “I spend so much time with young women who are pushing themselves outside of their comfort zone, talking to me about something that has really troubled them, sharing their experience and putting themselves in front of a camera.
“My documentaries are my job and I don’t feel those nerves. But for them it’s the biggest thing they’ve ever done, and I’m so inspired by the fact that they have gone through that experience with me and trusted me and found their confidence.
“They inspire me every day. This is my way of pushing myself outside of my comfort zone. I want to show people to feel the fear and do it anyway.”
Adam a gas act
WATERLOO ROAD star Adam Thomas looks the perfect gentleman in white tie and tails – although admits he is not always well-mannered.
The actor, 35, who last night scored 32 in his waltz with partner Luba Mushtuk, 33, said he usually breaks wind around his wife Caroline Daly, but has been holding it in during rehearsals.
He said on his Mancs On The Mic podcast: “Normally I just let rip.
“But because I am training with a Strictly partner, when she’s gone mate, honestly I go outside. I just find it very difficult holding it in.”
Jody doc treat in hospitcal trip
PARALYMPIAN Jody Cundy said doctors were starstruck when they treated him in hospital.
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The cyclist, 45, and his partner Jowita Przystal, 29, have been ordered to stick to new training rules after he was taken to hospital when his leg became swollen and infected.
Jody, who was three when his leg was amputated, said: “The docs are big Strictly fans so they were happy to treat us and look after us when we went in there.”