Shirley Ballas was “almost not eating” before Strictly Come Dancing in 2017
Image Source/ Woman & Home
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The 60-year-old dancer has revealed the unhealthy lengths she went to in order to look good next to ex-‘Strictly’ star Darcey Bussell.
Shirley told the ‘White Wine Question Time’ podcast:
‘To get super thin as I did in 2017 on ‘Strictly’, and drop down to a size six, it was hard work… I was almost not eating. I cannot and will not do that to myself again’.
Shirley admitted to feeling intimidated by the prospect of being compared to the “tall” and “beautiful” Darcey.
She said:
‘I was going on [TV] with this most beautiful woman who I had admired, and she seemed [in my mind] everything I wasn’t.
‘So I took those extra steps to make sure the dress was hanging right and the make up was right and the hair was right’.
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Shirley has actually felt more comfortable since Darcey announced she was quitting the show.
The dancer explained:
‘I think after she left I just thought: “Ok, I can just be myself”‘.
Meanwhile, Shirley previously admitted she felt anxious before making her first appearance on ‘Strictly’.
She shared:
‘It was a tough journey because I had to learn about TV, and I’ve got so many walls up that I tend to keep everybody out so it was breaking down the walls so people can see the real person. That was a challenge in itself.
‘So all in all, it wasn’t just a walk in, put your dress on and go. I had to do a lot of mental preparation, understanding myself, could I share myself, could I share myself with the British public and that was what was more challenging’.
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