The majority of us girls battle with swollen and achy feet after a night out on the tiles in our killer heels – so let’s spare a thought for Holly Valance who is having to dance in them for hours a day whilst training for Strictly Come Dancing.
Holly, who has been partnered with professional dancer Artem Chigvintsev, has been rehearsing the cha cha in preparation for their first live performance this Saturday.
Talking to The Mirror, she said, “The girls have to wear high heels - I'd love to see some of the boys wearing them and see if they don't moan the same as we do. It is a little bit more difficult because you're on the ball of your feet all the time, so that can get quite uncomfortable and quite painful. I have to get used to it and make sure everything else is strong around it to take the pressure of.”
Holly also spoke of the dynamics between her and Artem, who won the competition last year with the gorgeous Kara Tointon (who has since become his partner off the dancefloor too), she said, “Artem and I are going very well. He's a very good teacher, he's patient. We squabble and bicker but at least it's light-hearted and it's not too heavy and we can just laugh about it. But you could get really mean by the end of the week.”
Although Artem is pleased with the progress that Holly is making, he has revealed that she has a long way to go if they’re to win the competition. He said, "Holly's progress is quite good. There are moments where it looks really good and a lot more moments where it looks in the process of being good. Let's say out of 100 per cent we've probably put effort about 15 per cent. So there's a lot more. A lot more."
According to the newspaper, she is now getting through the routine "without falling over"… Glad to hear it!