Strictly Star's Emotional Plea for Votes
Amber Davies, the 29-year-old Love Island winner and West End performer, shared a tearful selfie just hours before Saturday's Strictly Come Dancing live show, as she continues to face significant backlash over her previous dance experience. The actress appeared emotional in the back of a car, forcing a smile while captioning the photo: 'Strictly Show Day 7. The nerves start slightly earlier each week.'
Blocking Out the Criticism
Davies has been under fire since replacing the injured Dani Dyer, with critics highlighting her years of professional dance training in West End productions. In response, the performer revealed she's actively avoiding negative comments, telling The Sun: 'So I am doing my very best not to look and listen to anything. I'm blocking out that noise and just being present in the moment.' She added that she's creating a protective bubble around herself and her professional partner, Nikita Kuzmin, 27, to maintain focus.
Relationship Speculation and Support System
Recent intimate photos showing Kuzmin planting a tender kiss on Davies' head sparked speculation about the Strictly 'curse,' but sources close to the actress have dismissed such claims as nonsense. Davies insisted her boyfriend, Ben Joyce, remains completely unfazed by the rumours, describing him as 'not a****d' about the speculation. She also revealed she's developed a close friendship with Kuzmin's girlfriend, Lauren Jaine, texting her 'all day, every day' and even joking that she's 'stolen' Lauren from Nikita.
An onlooker told The Sun that Joyce was seen dropping off a large suitcase at Davies' London training studios last week, accompanied by their dog Oreo. The observer noted: 'A lot of blokes would find it hard, leaving their missus training for hours on end, dancing with a hunky bloke, especially when they have so much chemistry on the dance floor.'
Despite the challenges, Davies remains determined to enjoy her Strictly experience, stating: 'All I want to do is go out there and enjoy the work we've done for the week, be in the moment and make us proud.' Her emotional social media posts included another close-up snap where she penned: 'Hearts going pitter patter and it's not even 9am,' clearly showing the pre-show nerves affecting the experienced performer.
