STRICTLY favourite Ashley Roberts has opened up for the first time about her dad’s suicide – and how his memory is helping her on the dancefloor.
Just six months ago, her music star dad Pat took his own life following a long and bitter mental health battle.
A broken Ashley was left questioning how she would ever move forward and rebuild her life.
But thankfully she didn’t have to wait long for the answer — when Britain’s favourite dance show came calling.
Fresh from topping the leaderboard in front of nine million viewers in Saturday’s series’ opener, Ashley told The Sun: “It’s been a really tough year and I know my dad would be super proud of me.
“I think about him when I’m dancing, and of course he is with me on that dancefloor.
“He’s definitely with me throughout this experience.”
“I know he’s with me in spirit. I’m really grateful to end this year off with Strictly.” Pat, a former drummer with Sixties rockers The Mamas & The Papas, had inspired Ashley’s move into showbusiness. He died, aged 69, in March.
Ashley, 37, added: “This year has helped me to grow. It’s shown me what I love in life and that’s why I’m beyond grateful to be on this show.
“I’ve found my inner strength.”
Ashley’s brother Jayce, 32, has also been affected by mental health issues.
He has struggled with schizophrenia and has a long criminal record, including time in jail, with offences including violence, flashing, drugs and theft.
He now lives in a care home.
Ashley says competing on Strictly is the perfect distraction from her family woes.
She explained: “It’s hard sometimes not to worry about the past and what is happening next, but I’m really trying to stay here right now and enjoy this moment, because I’m so grateful.”
Ashley grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, with Pat, Jayce and her mum Peggy. Having moved to Los Angeles to chase her showbiz dream, she was recruited into The Pussycat Dolls in 2003.
She sold more than 56million records with the American girlgroup before leaving in 2010. Two years later she was runner- up on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here!
Ashley is now paired with pro dancer Pasha Kovalev, 38, in a rare show of cooperation between the USA and Russia.
The two get on so well they have dubbed themselves Pashley, and are putting in tough seven-hour rehearsals for their next routine — a cha cha cha to Earth, Wind & Fire’s Boogie Wonderland.
Of her dance partner, who won the 2014 series with TV host Caroline Flack, she said: “Pasha’s great at calming my nerves. He calls it our little Pashley bubble and we stay in that. It’s our team name.
“When we set foot on stage it’s just us having a conversation, expressing ourselves through the dance to the audience. He’s a dream. He’s such a pro in the ballroom and Latin world. He’s so amazing, he’s very funny, kind, but he is professional.”
There is no danger of them being hit by the show’s curse, with Pasha loved up with his former Strictly partner, Countdown host Rachel Riley.
Indeed, the singer admits she is disastrous at dating as her nerves rendered her speechless when trying to flirt with Johnny Depp and Justin Timberlake years ago.
She said: “I get a bit star struck if I see someone and I love their films or their music.
“If I’m a really big fan I just shut down, I can’t speak.” Ashley even joined celebrity dating app Raya but that didn’t work out.
She explained: “I didn’t like it. I like natural chemistry and having a conversation. Love will come to me when the timing is right.”
Though Ashley did manage to pluck up the courage to speak to dancer Mark Ballas — son of Strictly head judge Shirley.
This month, The Sun on Sunday revealed they dated in 2010, publishing a snap of the pair together and sparking fears she might get favourable scores from Shirley.
But the worry was shot down by Shirley in her first interview as our Official Strictly Commentator last Saturday.
Speaking for the first time about the romance, Ashley said: “I’ve known him for eight years now and we dated for a hot second. We’re now really good friends.”
She attended his wedding, when he married US singer-songwriter BC Jean, in November 2016.
Ashley added: “He’s a great guy, but we’re just friends. I didn’t even know that photo of us existed.
“I met Shirley through Mark. She was at the wedding and that was the last time I saw her. She’s a professional and a great judge.”
Her link with Shirley isn’t the only controversy she had to endure ahead of the series.
The Pussycat Dolls were known for their sexy dance routines, plus Ashley’s US TV show 1st Look saw her having a one-to-one ballroom masterclass with Dancing With The Stars pro Keo Motsepe.
It led to suggestions she has an unfair advantage over her fellow contestants. But she insists that is not the case, and she needs to learn entirely new skills.
She said: “1st Look is me diving into other people’s sub-culture — I did cha cha lessons, salsa, Sri Lankan and Irish dancing.
“I literally had half an hour with a professional and it was a long time ago.
Dec in love links
ASHLEY was rumoured to have dated I’m A Celebrity host Declan Donnelly, 43, following her stint on the ITV reality show.
The pair were reported to have met for secret dates in early 2013, before she began appearing in Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.
At the time she said: “We’re trying to keep it out of the public eye. We’re just getting to know each other.
“We’re having fun, but I’m single. I love both those guys.”
Ashley, who was later replaced by Scarlett Moffatt on the show, admits she hasn’t spoken to the TV duo for several years, but has best wishes for them both.
And she’s delighted Dec and his manager wife Ali Astall welcomed daughter Isla three weeks ago.
She said: “Those boys are amazing, I loved working with them. I haven’t spoken to them much in recent years, but I wish them well. I’m proud and happy that Dec has a baby.
“I’ll watch him on I’m A Celeb, especially because I’ll be in the country. For the last couple of years I’ve been in and out. That show is special to me.”
“Strictly is challenging for me. But it is amazing when a move finally clicks. It would take for ever to be as good as Pasha.”
One significant difference between the bodypopping girlband and her Strictly experience is she feels a lot safer in the hands of the BBC1 show’s costume department.
She said: “Everything is measured to your body.
“The costume department sew you in before you go on stage so everything stays in place. We didn’t do that back in the Doll days. We just used to put corsets on and sucked it in. Our butts were flying everywhere.”
Her former bandmate Nicole Scherzinger, who won Dancing With The Stars in 2010, has been in touch to lend her support.
MOST READ IN BIZARRE
Ashley said: “I saw her recently. She said, ‘Babe, you’re going to be amazing and you’re going to love it’. She’s going to come and watch me when she’s in London next and I know she’ll support me in any way she can.”
So any chance of a rumoured reunion? Ashley replies: “The booty-popping Pussycat Doll world can take a back seat for the moment.”
And if she wins Strictly, that world can stay there.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans on (free) 116123 or 020 7734 2800.
Link
https://textbacklinkexchanges.com/strictly-star-ashley-roberts-opens-up-about-losing-her-father-when-he-took-his-own-life/
News Pictures Strictly star Ashley Roberts opens up about losing her father when he took his own life
You don’t have to pack away your bikini just because you’re the wrong side of 20. These body-beautiful stars reveal their secrets to staying in shape and prove you can smoulder in a two-piece, whatever your age. Read on and be bikini inspired!
TEENS
Hayden Panettiere
Size: 8
Age: 18
Height: 5ft 1in
Weight: 8st
To achieve her kick-ass figure, Hayden – who plays cheerleader Claire Bennet in Heroes – follows the ‘quartering’ rule. She eats only a quarter of the food on her plate, then waits 20 minutes before deciding whether she needs to eat again.
Hayden says: “I don’t have a model’s body, but I’m not one of those crazy girls who thinks that they’re fat. I’m OK with what I have.”
Nicollette says: “I don’t like diets – I see it, I eat it! I believe in eating healthily with lots of protein, vegetables and carbs to give you energy.”
kim cattrall
Size: 10-12
Age: 52
Height: 5ft 8in
Weight: 9st 4lb
SATC star Kim swears by gym sessions with Russian kettle bells (traditional cast-iron weights) and the South Beach Diet to give her the body she wants. To avoid overeating, Kim has a radical diet trick – squirting lemon juice on her leftovers – so she won’t carry on picking.
Kim says: “I am no super-thin Hollywood actress. I am built for men who like women to look like women.”
https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/banner-youre-not-alone.png?strip=all&w=960
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий