TikTok comedian Kayleigh Trappe has opened up about her Dancing with the Stars journey, saying the popular RTÉ One show has been "so much more" than an entertainment show or a dance competition.
The social media star performed a Charleston to Lady Gaga's version of That's Entertainment alongside her pro dance partner Ervinas Merfeldas last Sunday night. The judges awarded them an impressive 32 points.
This week, the lip-syncing queen is set to perform a Rumba to Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You.
Speaking to the press ahead of Country Week, Trappe said she really appreciates the messages of support she has received over the last few weeks.
"You're going out and you're doing an entertainment show and you're dancing, but you're not really realising beforehand or during it what you're doing for people at home," she said.
Trappe continued: "There's people who message me, saying like I said earlier, that they were having a rough day and Dancing with the Stars at 6.30pm on a Sunday is something that they're living for and picks them up."
The Monaghan native said it means the world to her to hear that she has inspired her younger fans to "try new things".
She said: "You know, I have no dancing experience. My sporting experience is fairly limited as well, so to get messages from parents saying it's inspiring to see their kids who might have been in the same boat as me growing up - they feel like they're inspired now to try new things, to push the boat out and to explore their options and that, you know, when one door closes another one opens."
Watch: Kayleigh Trappe and Ervinas Merfeldas perform a Charleston to Lady Gaga's version of That's Entertainment
Trappe said she's had "a very bizarre journey in my career so far" and hopes that there are more opportunities heading her way in the near future.
"I just love the idea of young people especially looking at me going, 'You can do anything if you put your mind to it'," she said.
"It's not just an entertainment show or a dance competition. It has been so much more for me and I hope that after the show ends that there's just something else that's going to open up for me as well."
Dancing with the Stars' country-themed quarter-final will air on Sunday 2 March at 6:30pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
