14 August 2023 , 22:52
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Strictly Come Dancing fans think they have figured out which professional dancer will be paired with Love Island's Zara McDermott.
The stunning former Islander, 26, will take to the dancefloor in this year's competition in the hopes of bagging the Glitterball trophy. She has seen the BBC break their own rules by signing their first reality TV star and Love Islander. Fans can't wait for Zara to strut her stuff, and have already picked up on "clues" surrounding her dance partner.
While no official pairings have been made yet, viewers are predicting she will be matched with Graziano Di Prima. It comes after Zara took to her social media to thank everyone for all their support ahead of the show. She then asked her followers who her pro might be. Zara wrote: "STRICTLY 2023 LETS GO!!! I cannot thank you all enough… and I can’t even contain my excitement!!! I may burst!!!!! p.s. who do you think my dance partner is going to be? And I also wonder which dance I’m going to enjoy most?!”
Zara is the first Love Islander to appear on Strictly (PA)One fan said: “I think you’re quite tall so maybe Graziano or Johannes (I adore them all!).” A second added: “I think you'll love all the fast dances and be partnered with Graziano.” Someone else wrote: “I’m guessing Graziano,” and a fourth quipped: “I think you’re going to be with Graziano because he is the tallest! Looking forward to watching you.”
Zara has been teasing her fans already as she issued a warning to her future pro partner. Taking to Instagram over the weekend, Zara said: "Hi, everyone! Obviously, the news is out and I’m gonna be on Strictly Come Dancing this year, ahh! I honestly wasn’t expecting such an incredible, overwhelming reaction. This is probably one of the biggest things I will ever do in my entire life."
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"We had our first dance masterclass session the other day. We all met each other. We even met the pros which was just amazing. Seeing them dance, I was like: 'Wow!'" She added: "I’m honestly that girl that’s too nervous to even dance in a nightclub at this point, let alone in front of millions of people. What am I doing? But, life is all about pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone, so here I am!"
The hit BBC One dance show's 2023 line-up was confirmed last week with the likes of Les Dennis, Zara and Angela Rippon making up the 15 celebrities. As well as hoping to win over the judges, Zara is reportedly wanting to take home the title of Strictly Come Dancing's sexiest contestant. A source said: “Zara knows she is the glam girl in this year’s cast and is up for the challenge of being the show’s sexiest star yet.
“Zara is out to prove what you wear has nothing to do with your work or your intelligence, so owning the Strictly wardrobe is just part of that," they told The Sun. However, boyfriend Sam Thompson has fears over the infamous curse, it has been claimed. The former Made In Chelsea star is said to be feeling “insecure” over her impending stint on the show. The couple split back in August 2019 after a source revealed Zara had enjoyed a tryst with 'someone in the music industry' while she appeared in X Factor : Celebrity.
BBC family show Strictly has gained a wild reputation over the years thanks to the infamous show 'curse'. Celebrity contestants hooking up with their professional dance partners, and even each other, has become as much a feature of the show as sequins and controversial scores. Most recently Great British Bake Off star John Whaite confessed to "falling in love" with his dance partner Johannes Radebe.