Dianne Buswell candidly lifted the lid on a forgotten struggle which took place in the early stages of her dancing career during an exclusive chat with The Mirror.
The Aussie dancer is facing heaps of success - and work - as she's due to return for another series of Strictly Come Dancing later this year but is also working in partnership with Holland & Barrett to help inspire the nation to live well by moving well. A lesson she may have learned the hard way as she admitted she had faced her own fair share of struggles, particularly mental, as a young dancer, while she was trying to find her footing in the competitive world of dancing.
A former Australian Open Champion and four-time Amateur Australian Open Finalist, the Strictly professional picked her brother Andrew as her first dancing partner and the pair were Western Australian Open Adult New Vogue champions in 2008 and 2010. Once she turned professional, at the age of 21, following an appearance in So You Think You Can Dance Australia, Dianne joined the touring company Burn The Floor.
"That was the hardest period for me mentally because you're working so hard at something and you wanted something so badly", Dianne recalled, pointing out that her dreams were often impacted by external factors, particularly as she joined an intense and competitive field.
"It was a lot of comparing yourself. It was a lot of not thinking you're good enough for what you were doing", she continued. "Kind of an imposter syndrome at times. It was quite tough." But throughout her hardest times, her "absolute passion" kept her afloat.
"My dancing is my absolute passion and there was a time where I was probably physically too sick to even think of wanting to dance", the 34-year-old added, remembering a troubled period of her life where she'd been unable to dance. "I think that was the saddest part for me because I know how much that means to me and I had quite a big break."
During that break, she grew more eager to adopt a healthier lifestyle as it helped her practice her moves. "I realised that it is my passion and that it makes me so happy to dance. If I'm not well enough, physically to be able to do that, then that's a big thing in my life that I'll be missing."
Years have raced by since Dianne's first steps on a dancefloor and, after starring in the 15th season of Australia's Dancing With The Stars in which she was paired with AFL star Jude Bolton, she joined the BBC dancing competition in 2017.
Asked whether she was still facing the same struggles, as she remains under public scrutiny while the rumour mill runs wild, Dianne divulged that she had learned from the past: "Nowhere near as much actually", she said. "Obviously, you're going to see things all the time. But I think if you just stay in your own lane... it doesn't really affect me too much anymore."
Last year, as she competed for the Glitterball trophy alongside EastEnders actor Bobby Brazier, Dianne was the target of multiple dating rumours suggesting they had embarked on an off-screen relationship. Gossip that failed to impact her real-life romance with Joe Sugg.
The pair met in 2018, when the social media star was paired up with Dianne for his own stint in Strictly. After finishing the competition as runner-ups, their palpable chemistry led them to become inseparable - and they've even adopted an adorable chocolate Labrador puppy earlier this month.
To top it all off, the loved-up couple have found a way to spend more time together amid Dianne's busy schedule, as they've taken on workouts as a pair. But there's one detail that creates some minor discord: "We're very different. In fact, I love a morning workout. Joe loves an evening one. So we struggle in that sense."
She added: "I could not think of anything worse at that time." Proving their love is strong, Dianne and Joe decided long walks will have to do during the days they're unable to work out together. Although she has a preference for strength training.
"I didn't think I would love it as much as I do", she admitted when asked what physical activity she'd instinctively turn to. "When you start doing like a few weights you get a buzz from it. But other than dance, I have a real passion for yoga. I think yoga is beautiful." Could she rope Joe into her new passion?
Dianne has teamed up with Holland & Barrett to get the nation to join the ‘Movement Movement’. At H&B, you can get free personalised advice from its team of extensively trained experts, both in-store and online, on everything from lifestyle changes to product solutions to support your joints, bones and muscles, helping more to move well to live well. Visit https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/wellness-hubs/joints-bones-muscles/ to find out more.
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