SHE shot to fame on Love Island – a contest where you have to start a fling with your co-stars – and now Tasha Ghouri’s on a show where competitors desperately try to avoid falling for one another.
But she insists the infamous Strictly curse won’t affect her while she stars on the BBC One favourite, which has its first live show of the new series tonight.
Tasha, 26, paired up with her boyfriend Andrew Le Page, 29, on ITV dating show Love Island and, two years later, she insists no other bloke could get a look in.
She said: “Andrew, to me, is the hottest man on this whole planet.
“I look at him and I’m like: ‘Yeah, that’s my man!’ Me and Andrew trust each other 100 per cent.
“It’s not a make-or-break for us. We’re going to breeze through this because we’re going to marry each other one day, you know?
“It doesn’t bother us at all. We didn’t have a discussion about ‘the Strictly curse’ because we trust each other.
“It doesn’t play on our mind.”
So did Andrew worry when he discovered his girl been paired with returning pro Aljaz Skorjanec, the recently christened “bad boy” of Strictly?
Tasha said: “He has no worries at all. If anything, he was super-happy and could see the great partnership we had. He came to rehearsals the other day and watched for a little bit.
“Aljaz taught Andrew some dance moves, which was funny.
“Aljaz is so happy with his wife [Janette Manrara] and we went on a double date last night, and had a lovely dinner with their beautiful daughter, Lyra. Andrew’s been so supportive through it all.”
After spending weeks on screen wearing just a bikini for Love Island in 2022, the skimpy Strictly dresses are no a problem for Tasha.
Despite the terror of doing live TV and taking on a dance form she has never done before, she’s given the costume department carte blanche.
Tasha said: “I can’t wait to get to the studio and put on an incredible dress and dance the dance.
“Before we try costumes on, the costume team ask us what we like and don’t like.
“They take into consideration how comfortable we are. But I’m comfortable in my own body and I’m happy to enjoy the costumes and just go for it.”
Tonight she’ll be dancing the cha-cha to Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter in a routine that she describes as “smiley, fun and upbeat.”
She said: “It’s a good one to start with, and lots of people will love it.”
What matters is having the best time and representing all the amazing deaf communities out there
In future weeks, would she be willing to take part in a Love Island- themed dance routine if the producers asked her to?
She said: “I’m open to any suggestions. It might be quite cool because it is a part of my past, of course.
“It depends if it fits in with whatever week we’re doing. It’s up to Aljaz as well. I’m just super-excited for any theme. I’m up for anything.”
‘Biggest dream’
Despite being relaxed about so many elements of Strictly, there is a serious reason for taking part in the programme.
Tasha was born deaf and, at the age of five, had a cochlear implant fitted, which enables her to hear.
Aljaz is an incredible teacher. I was so happy to find out he was my partner because he’s joyous, fun and oozes positivity
She said: “I’m doing Strictly because it’s been my biggest dream. It’s genuinely been a goal for years, even more than Love Island.
“I watch it and I’m like, ‘I want to be on that dance floor one day.’ And I’m doing it for representation.
“I want to inspire younger Tashas out there who struggle with confidence and self-love.”
Tasha might be perceived as having an advantage over other competitors because she has worked as a commercial dancer.
But she says she only appeared in one professional show for five months, plus a music video.
So she has a strong response to those who might criticise her.
Tasha said: “That’s outside noise. I’m completely blocking that out.
“It does not matter to me. What matters is having the best time and representing all the amazing deaf communities out there.”
Tasha also has to contend with joining the show when it has been subject to scandals relating to last year’s series.
They include claims of bullying in rehearsals by Giovanni Pernice against his pro partner Amanda Abbington. Gio is under investigation by the BBC.
There was also the kicking of Zara McDermott in rehearsals by her pro partner Graziano Di Prima who, as a result, was sacked earlier this year.
Tasha said: “I wasn’t there when all this happened. I can’t comment on it as it’s nothing to do with me.”
As for her dance partner, Tasha cannot stop gushing about him.
She said: “Aljaz is an incredible teacher. I was so happy to find out he was my partner because he’s joyous, fun and oozes positivity. It’s his comeback year, too.
“I want to do Aljaz proud, as well as my family and Andrew.”
– Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC One today at 7pm.
