ZARA'S TIME TO SHINE

As the first ever Love Island star to appear on Strictly, Zara McDermott is keen to prove herself

- ALICE PENWILL

Zara McDermott is preparing to take to the floor with her professional partner in the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.

The reality star had her first taste of fame after appearing on the fourth series of Love Island as a bombshell in 2018. She didn’t find love and was booted off after just 10 days when Adam Collard chose someone else to couple up with.

But since then, Zara’s career has gone from strength to strength. She starred in Made In Chelsea alongside her boyfriend, Sam Thompson and has become a television presenter and documentary maker.

Amid all the glitz and glamour guaranteed in Strictly, what Zara has really been looking forward to is making friends with the other celebrities.

“There’s a really beautiful feeling of togetherness,” the 26-year-old says. “Even though it’s a competition, it doesn’t feel like it. We’ve not known each other for that long, but it just feels so beautiful already.

“We’re all so supportive of each other – I don’t know what I was expecting but it’s amazing. We all get on so well and we’re so lucky.”