This week on Dancing with the Stars each of the contestants is dedicating their dance to someone special in their life.
Erica Cody, who has consistently been a hit with judges, has decided to dedicate her dance to Irish popstar Samantha Mumba.
It's been over 20 years since Mumba burst onto the music scene in Ireland when the Drumcondra girl was signed by Louis Walsh.
Her first single Gotta Tell You reached the top of the charts in Ireland and New Zealand, number two in the UK and number four in the US.
Follow up singles from her album of the same name were equally well-received. To date, Samantha has sold in excess of 15 million records globally and had six Top 10 hits in the United Kingdom, Ireland and almost 20 other countries.
Speaking to RTÉ Entertainment about why Mumba means so much to her Cody said: "When I was growing up there wasn’t much representation when it came to women of colour or black women in general that I could see on TV doing what I wanted to do - like singing and performing and topping the charts.
"So for her to have done all that when I was young and impressionable, she means a great deal to me.
"It was kind of inevitable that I would dedicate it to her. It is a real full-circle moment for me because after doing The Princess and the Frog for movie week I received a huge amount of messages from parents and kids saying that 'you’re that representation for us’.
"It means so much.
"I wanted to dedicate it to someone who inspired me to actually just go for it, and to show that it is possible and that there is room for everyone no matter who you are and what walk of life you come from."
Cody will be dancing the Tango to Mumba's Body II Body and revealed she got the chance to tell during a 'really lovely moment’ which viewers will see on Sunday night.
And while there is no elimination this week, Cody is working just hard as she is "very completive with herself".
Thanks to everyone who voted for us last night! Because of you we live to tell another TWO weeks of @DWTSIRL tales & we are beyond grateful ❤️ blessed with the best partner in @DenysSamson and we cannot wait to show you what we have in store 🔥 THANK YOU!! #DWTSIrl #TeamDenica pic.twitter.com/dVMo8LbFld
— Erica-Cody (@EricaCody) February 7, 2022
"I jumped on the show when we were still in the middle of lockdown and I didn't know when I would get the chance to tour and everything was very uncertain.
"It is such an amazing experience that goes by so quick and you just want to make it through every week.
"But I would be lying if I said I was just doing it for the experience, I am also doing it because I want to win!"
Dancing with the Stars, RTÉ One, Sunday, 6.30pm
