Dancing with the Stars contestant Katja Mia has told RTÉ Entertainment that week five was her "turning point" on the show as she shook off online trolling, received support from head judge Loraine Barry and "just threw myself into the rest of the competition".
Looking back on that week, The Six O'Clock Show presenter recounted: "I had had the Viennese Waltz and then I'd got an influx of positive messages that week as well, which had made me really emotional because I had just had the comments about... people body shaming [me] and stuff.
And so say all of us @loraine_barry
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) February 4, 2024
Powerful words of support for Katja Mia#DWTSirl @DWTSIrl pic.twitter.com/8EVdwfM7as
"And then to go on and have Loraine Barry say those amazing words on live television... It made me get out of my head saying that - 'Ok, I deserve to be here. Just because I'm not a size eight or a ten and I can't be flung around the room easily [doesn't mean I can't dance]'.
"I was a bit more positive about the experience because I think going into it I maybe doubted myself a little bit, just because of my body dysmorphia and body image issues. I was like, 'Ok, I don't think I look like a dancer...' So I think that was the turning point for me in a positive way and after that, 'Right, get out of your head', and I just threw myself into the rest of the competition."
Three weeks on, Mia is relishing the "amazing" support, brimming with confidence and looking forward to Sunday's American Smooth with her professional dance partner, Ervinas Merfeldas.
"Ervinas had never made it past week seven, so we've passed that point now," she continued. "Honestly, everything after that is a bonus. We're just so excited if we get through another week and get to do this experience again."
When asked what she would do differently on Dancing with the Stars knowing what she knows now, the Dubliner laughed: "I probably would have done some stamina training! I probably would have done a bootcamp for, like, two months because honestly the amount of fitness that's required for this show is crazy. I'm still trying to catch up with myself. It's 90 seconds you're dancing non-stop and it almost feels like you're sprinting on a treadmill.
"I probably would have done a bit of boot camp, bit of stamina training before and, I don't know, maybe versed myself in some ballroom or Latin training. But the thing is, the whole point is you're supposed to go in there knowing zero, knowing nothing, or else it doesn't really make a show and it doesn't really show your growth either. You don't want to go in there being teacher's pet - 'I can do this, I can do that'.
"I'm glad how it's worked out, but I definitely think the bootcamp or stamina training would have helped because I'm dying - every time the dance is over I'm literally gasping for air!"
Dancing with the Stars, Sundays, RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, 6:30pm
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