Strictly and Gladiators star Montell Douglas, 38, has revealed her time so far on the popular dance show has helped bring out a dormant side of her personality.
Douglas and dance pro partner Johannes Radebe, 27, made it through to Week Ten after surviving a second brush with the dreaded dance-off.
The pair’s Blackpool Week Salsa earned them a mid-table finish with a respectable 35 points for the judges – who unanimously chose to save Douglas and Radebe over Wynne Evans and Katya Jones.
It was the second time they faced the dance-off, having previously triumphed over Sam Queck and Nikita Kuzmin in Week Seven.
They will hope to improve their scores and public vote share with a Quickstep to Get Happy by Ella Fitzgerald on this Saturday’s show.
Ahead of their performance, the couple were reflecting on their time so far on the show.
The 38-year-old explained dancing has always been part of her life, saying she would always “dance around” before big performances in her career “to keep out all the noise”.
Now on Strictly she does: “more dancing to prepare for dancing!”
More than that, Douglas reveals the Strictly ballroom has: “brought out a side that’s been hidden for a long time.”
She divulged that competitive dancing has allowed her to “express” parts of herself she wasn’t able to previously.
“It’s more about discovering that side rather than creating a new one. It’s like I’m nurturing a side that was locked up in a box,” the Gladiators star explained to the BBC.
Douglas credits her pro partner Radebe with helping her get in touch with her “hidden” side.
“I am grateful that he meets me where I am at. There is no pre-judgement or presumptions, he is patient and waits to meet me where I am,” she said.
Radebe in turn glows about the former Olympian’s commitment to the competition.
“I’m grateful that she shows up—on time, every time. That’s a big thing for me,” he enthuses.
As they progress in the competition, the couple have also developed rehearsal rituals to build their confidence and togetherness.
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Douglas details that they: “always take a photo or video to end the rehearsal. It’s like saying, ‘We never go to bed angry.’”
“It’s our moment. We never go to sleep without, I love you regardless of what happened today,” the 38-year-old reveals.