TikTok star Miriam Mullins has said she was "very apprehensive" ahead of appearing on Dancing with the Stars as she thought the audience wouldn't know who she was and she feels "there is a stigma with influencers".
The Cork-born social media personality, who has over two million followers on TikTok, is competing in the seventh season of the RTÉ One dancing competition alongside her professional partner and DWTS newbie Montel Hewson.
They have proved to be a popular match so far in the competition and impressed the judges with a lively Samba last week, scoring a healthy 21 points.
Speaking ahead of the third episode this Sunday, Miriam said she has been "really surprised" by the positive audience reaction.
She said: "Going into it I was just a little bit worried that the audience would be like, 'who is she?' I try not to worry about those kinds of things, but it's always in the back of your mind.
"Especially when it's a show that people have to vote, it's a bit of a popularity contest. I was very apprehensive, I didn't know what people were gonna say. I feel like there still is a bit of a stigma with influencers and influencers getting opportunities.
"But I've had the best response ever. I'm also getting a new audience as well, on top of the audience that I already have, so it's just been really positive."
The 28-year-old social media sensation has also been blown away by the local support she has received so far.
"Where I live at home down in Cork, all the local businesses and everything are all sharing me going on Dancing with the Stars and [saying to] vote for me and stuff like that," Miriam said. "The local support as well as the support from my audience has been really good."
She has also been leaning on her close circle during the process of taking part in the show.
"It's really important to have the support from family and friends because it's not an easy thing to do going on every week, dancing in front of the nation", she said.
"Especially if you've done a week of really hard work and you make a mistake or something doesn't go right. That's when you need that support, but fingers crossed that doesn't happen!"
Miriam agreed that the competition is fierce following Brian Redmond and Arthur Gourounlian's comments that it's the best season so far.
"The standard is definitely high, but it's such a good thing because it means it's an amazing show and it's good to have a bit of competition," she said.
"I think there's a lot of people that are going to surprise people along the way and improve and just got better and better. They're putting in lots of hard work and lots of hours.
"For me, my first week wasn't the best dance of the night, but my goal is to just keep improving as the weeks go on and just get better and better, that's all I want."
Photo credit: Kyran O'Brien
Miriam said that the pressure is building as they head into the first elimination of the season.
"With the elimination this week, the pressure is definitely on and everyone is feeling it. We're like a big massive family here," she said.
"One thing I'll say about this year's cast, and even the pro dancers have been saying it, everyone is getting on so well. We're all supportive of each other, if someone's having a bad day we're there to pick each other up."
The social media star has said she hopes her experience on Dancing with the Stars might lead to more television work in the future, particularly in presenting.
"That’s what I've always wanted to do," she said. "I did media in college so I always wanted to go down that route. That's why I started the Tik Toks really because it was a way of expressing myself and do a bit of acting. I was hoping that if it did well it would open up other doors for me. And that's exactly what it's done.
"But it's taken a lot of hard work and dedication and I'm just really grateful I've gotten opportunities like Dancing with the Stars."
Photo credit: Kyran O'Brien
She added: "I try and go out there every Sunday night and try to be a little bit of a ray of sunshine and just have a bit of fun. I just want people at home to enjoy it. I'm out of my comfort zone basically, but it’s been brilliant."
It's fair to say her nerves are rising ahead of the first elimination this weekend.
"This year it's just so difficult because everyone is bringing something different to the table. There's a lot of characters, somebody might not be the best dancer but they're a really good character on the show and it's an entertainment show at the end of the day," she said.
"I have no idea who's gonna go home on Sunday. It could even be me, nobody knows. So you just have to enjoy it and give it your all cause you actually don't know when you could be going home."
Dancing with the Stars continues on Sunday at 6.30pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
