STRICTLY sensation Tasha Ghouri has broken show records throughout her astonishing run on the show, but found herself in the bottom two in last Saturday’s semi-final.
But now she’s told how the criticism has put a fire in her belly.
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Ahead of Saturday’s final, the Love Island star, 26, said: “I’ve never looked at the dance off as a negative experience. If anything, it’s added to my experience.
“ I’ve had that journey now, the ups and downs.
“And it’s another opportunity to dance again. So I was like, you know what, let’s just go for it.
“I had so much fire and butterflies in my belly because I was like, I’m not ready to go at the last hurdle.
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“I’m so proud that we just went out there and didn’t let it stop us.
“But if anything, it made us. It didn’t break us.”
Tasha and her pro partner Aljaz Skorjanec clinched the first 10 of the series and the first full score of 40.
She added: “To me, I feel like I’ve already won with me by doing that.
“We’ve created such amazing magical dances, the waltz, the American Smooth, the Couple’s Choice.
“I feel like people have known I’ve wanted to do this for such a long time and I’m so proud that we’ve left a footprint there.”
She first turned heads when she danced as Barbie back on Love Island – but now she’s all grown up.
The model has gone full circle since performing in latex on the ITV2 dating show and is now preparing to wow with a chic American Smooth in the Strictly Come Dancing final.
So she’s laughed off the idea she would ever revisit that sexy, pink costume.
Tasha, 26, said: “They’re two completely different shows – Strictly is about dancing and the joy of learning in the most positive way.
“I cannot wait to dance our American Smooth again on Saturday.
“I’ve watched it so many times on YouTube, literally about 500 times every morning in bed.
“I just love it so much.”
Tasha, who was born deaf and wears a cochlear implant, admits she has sometimes struggled with the weight of the competition.
Speaking to press before Saturday night’s live final, Tasha said: “On Saturdays, when all the magic is happening, all the craziness, I’ll literally be in my dressing room and have taken my implant out.
I feel like it’s just been such a special year to be a part of
Tasha Ghouri
“I just literally need to take time out from everything because it can get quite overwhelming with a lot of sensory overload.
“But I always say, you get the challenges to overcome. And it makes you stronger and makes you grow even more.”
Seeing Tasha on TV wearing the implant has meant a great deal to so many viewers – who have been particularly moved by her decision to “bedazzle” her implant each week.
Tasha said: “The costume team put diamantes on my cochlear implant to match my costumes.
“The messages I’ve got from younger women, younger children, teenagers, have said ‘I felt represented because I’ve seen you on TV, I started decorating mine as well’.
‘Absolute dream’
“And that’s a part of representation.
“Especially with Chris as well, I feel like it’s just been such a special year to be a part of because representation is so important to have and I feel so passionate about it, honestly.
“It’s been an absolute dream to have the opportunity to be able to do that and to help people find their confidence and believe in themselves.”
Tasha and partner Aljaz Skoranec will revisit their American Smooth and Couples Choice dances and perform a showdance to Sing, Sing, Sing by Benny Goodman.
Aljaz teased: “There is one thing that we haven’t done and from the moment we got paired up, I thought that this sort of specific look is going to be something that Tasha is going to be the best in.
“And the show dance is the perfect time for it.
“It’s very difficult, we’re still learning it but I think we have a really, really cool dance ready.”