Having survived two consecutive dance-offs and made it to the beauty of Orchestra Night this weekend, Dancing with the Stars contestant Aishah Akorede has told RTÉ Entertainment she has added something to her wishlist for the RTÉ One show: to dance to a Christian song.
The model and former Miss Universe Ireland and her professional dance partner Robert Rowiński are looking forward to dancing the American Smooth to Vanessa Carlton's A Thousand Miles - backed by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra - and Akorede would also like to showcase some music that's very close to her heart if she progresses in the competition.
"I would love to dance to a Christian song, to be very honest with you!" she said. "That's probably the thing that's on my mind. I'm a Christian girl that hasn't got to be in church because I've been dancing on this show every single Sunday in the studio at 7:45 - am, every single Sunday!
"I know that it's probably not going to be likely because there's not very many dances left and opportunities left, but if I could do that, I would be so happy.
"But then again, bear in mind, I got to dance to an Afrobeat song by Wizkid (Kese (Dance)) on Dedicated Dance Week, and everyone is still going crazy about that. The whole of Nigeria are like, 'How can I vote?!' and I'm like, 'Sorry, it doesn't extend to you guys'.
"So yeah, honestly, I've gotten to do the dream song already; I got to do a Wizkid song on Irish TV - but if I could dance to some kind of Christian song, I'd love to do that."
Akorede saluted dance partner Rowiński for taking her this far in the competition as dance lessons and life lessons combine.
"Robert is, like, a very intricate character, you know?" she said. "I don't know if people know that he has literally done his PhD. He's so smart, he's so serious when he needs to be serious. I've just learned a lot in terms of character-wise. I feel like I've learned about overcoming things as well."
"He's like a dad!" she laughed. "He hates it when I say this, but he's like a dad to me, if that makes sense! I don't know how to say exactly what I've learned from him, but I feel like I'm growing as a person because of him as well.
"And he always gives me advice about every single little thing in my life as well... he's involved in everything in my life at this point! He's like my dad and my best friend!"
Always looking for the positive, Akorede added that, for her, everything about the show is a bonus.
"I thought I'd be out first!" she admitted. "I'm just genuinely so proud to have made it this far. Obviously, I really would like to make it further to the quarter-finals, to the semi-finals, to the final!"
Dancing with the Stars, Sundays, RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, 6:30pm
