Strictly's Tasha Ghouri pays tribute to predecessor Rose Ayling-Ellis
Strictly Come Dancing star Tasha Ghouri has paid tribute to Rose Ayling-Ellis for breaking new ground on the show.
Former EastEnders star Rose was Strictly's first-ever deaf contestant in 2021, where she went on to win the Glitterball trophy with professional partner Giovanni Pernice.
Tasha will represent the deaf community on the new season of Strictly, with her professional partner set to be revealed on this weekend's launch show.
Ahead of the big night, Tasha credited both Rose and Strictly for putting a spotlight on diversity and representation.
"When I look at Strictly, it means representation. Rose was on there and she was absolutely incredible," she said. "To follow in Rose’s footsteps means a lot to me. I’m doing this for myself and the deaf community, and for people who struggle with their confidence.
Related: Best streaming services 2024 — including Disney Plus, Netflix, iPlayer and Apple TV+
"I’m here to help them find self-love and confidence. To me, this is really about raising awareness and doing something for myself, because it’s something I’ve always wanted to do."
The former Love Island star expressed hopes that her time in the ballroom will inspire other people to pursue their dreams.
"I want people to feel seen and heard and understood when they see me dance," she said. "I want to bring people along with me on my journey and feel it all with me. I really hope they feel represented and heard.
Earlier this week, Tasha thanked her Strictly predecessor Rose for encouraging her as she prepares to enter the ballroom.
"She's been amazing," Ghouri told Digital Spy. "She messaged me saying 'well done'. I've spoken to her and met her, and she's honestly such a lovely woman."
Strictly Come Dancing will return on Saturday, September 14 on BBC One, while spin-off Strictly: It Takes Two airs on weeknights on BBC Two. Both shows are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Interested in talking about Strictly? Visit our dedicated sub-forum
Read more Strictly news on our dedicated homepage
You Might Also Like
