SOCIAL media star Kayleigh Trappe has revealed how taking part in Dancing With The Stars has helped her to overcome “body issues”.
The 29-year-old said the RTE show has given her a chance to be herself, overcome her phobias and follow her dreams of acting and presenting.
Kayleigh Trappe and Ervinas Merfeldas will be hoping for glory in the DWTS final[/caption]
Kayleigh revealed a history of body confidence issues[/caption]
She did hilarious impressions of the judges online[/caption]
Kayleigh told The Irish Sun: “When I was younger I had a diary. I was reading it recently where I had written how I wanted to be a performer but that was never going to happen as I’m too fat and ugly.
“But I’m going to leave this show with more confidence and support myself more. I have the routines to thank for that.”
The Monaghan woman, who became famous when her TikTok videos lip syncing Irish celebs went viral, revealed how doing DWTS finally meant she had to be herself.
She said: “I made a career out of being in character, putting on wigs and never being myself.
“When I’m told to be myself my confidence just goes and that comes back to a history of body confidence issues.
“But in week five something changed and since then my dance pro partner Ervinas (Merfeldas) said how much freer I am about letting go where before I was very hesitant with things.
“Although it was a difficult part of the journey, it was the best part as well.”
And Kayleigh could be leaving DWTS with the glitterball trophy tomorrow.
She said: “If anyone thinks I’m peaking, I’ll take that as a compliment because this has been a huge journey for me.
“There was a point on week three, where my scores were always the same, or going down.
““I was really doubting myself, thinking that maybe I wasn’t as good as the rest of them.
“Sometimes it did affect me and my belief in myself. I haven’t seen a nine or a 10 from the judges yet, so hopefully that’s what will be in store for me at the weekend.”
Kayleigh admits she took a risk sending up the four DWTS judges, who will mark her routines in the finals this weekend in a hilarious TikTok video.
GLITTERBALL STARS – ALL THE DWTS WINNERS
SERIES ONE – 2017: Former Kerry footballer Aidan O’Mahony beat the odds to be crowned Ireland’s first-ever Dancing With The Stars champion alongside pro partner Valeria Milova, beating out former Fair City star Aoibhin Garrihy and Red Rock actress Denise McCormack.
SERIES TWO – 2018: Singer Jake Carter – the younger brother of country crooner Nathan – was just 19 when he nabbed the Glitterball in 2018 with pro dancer Karen Byrne. And the dance partnership later blossomed into love for the popular pair, who confirmed they were dating months after their big win.
SERIES THREE – 2019: Popular presenter Mairead Ronan became the first female winner, landing the Glitterball with Kilkenny dancer John Nolan in 2019. The mum-of-three said her victory was proof “you can do anything you put your mind to”.
SERIES FOUR – 2020: The 2020 series finale was brought forward due to the outbreak of Covid-19, with 2FM star Lottie Ryan left in tears at clinching the trophy with pro partner Pasquale La Rocca.
SERIES FIVE – 2022: Returning to screens in 2022 after a year off in 2021 due to the continuing coronavirus crisis, ex-jockey Nina Carberry became the third woman on the trot to win the Glitterball, marking a second title for pro Pasquale.
SERIES SIX – 2023: RTE 2FM star Carl Mullan was left stunned back in 2023 when he lifted the Glitterball with pro Emily Barker. The underdog came out on top against fellow finalists Brooke Scullion, Suzanne Jackson and Damien McGinty.
SERIES SEVEN – 2024: Paralympian Jason Smyth came out on top as the 2024 series winner, with pro Karen Byrne becoming the second dancer to win the DWTS title twice. The legally blind athlete moved viewers to tears with an emotional showdance to secure the title.
She said: “If I end up getting four or five scores, I will have no one else to blame but myself. It was always going to happen.”
“I was gathering wee bits of clothing and then last Saturday we were all walking out together, Lorraine said, ‘Kayleigh when are you going to do a clip of us?’
‘GREEN LIGHT’
“And I thought there’s my green light. So I did. I never take offence about anything they say about me.
“There is good craic in them as well, the whole production team was laughing away.”
Kayleigh and Ervinas will dance a salsa to Christina Aguilera’s Let There Be Love from Love Week for the season finale.
- The DWTS final airs on Sunday night on RTE One at 6.30pm.
Kayleigh said she took a huge risk in impersonating the judges[/caption]
