West End star Amber Davies has spoken out for the first time after her defeat in the Strictly Come Dancing final, posting a moving message of thanks to her supporters. The 29-year-old, who was partnered with professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin, narrowly missed out on winning the BBC show's coveted Glitterball Trophy on Saturday night.
A Gracious Defeat and Heartfelt Thanks
Taking to Instagram following the live final, Amber penned a lengthy and emotional reflection on her four-month journey in the competition. She extended warm congratulations to the winners, former England footballer Karen Carney and her professional partner Carlos Gu.
"Hands down best night of my life!" Amber wrote. "So unbelievably happy for you two wonderful humans." She expressed profound gratitude to the public for their support, stating, "Thank you so much to the guys for all the love and support over the last 4 months, I'll never ever forget it, this has been a complete dream."
The performer also thanked the judging panel—Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, and Anton Du Beke—for their belief in her. She highlighted the departing hosts, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, congratulating them on their "incredible run" and noting she was glad to be a "tiny part" of their Strictly memory.
A Rollercoaster Journey to the Final
Amber's path to the final was unconventional. She entered the competition as a last-minute replacement for Dani Dyer, who fractured her ankle just before the first live show. Despite this abrupt start, Amber and Nikita became consistent high-scorers, topping the leaderboard in the final with 118 points from three performances, just one point ahead of the winners and fellow finalists.
However, the journey was not without its challenges. Amber faced criticism from some viewers due to her established theatrical background, a point alluded to by Nikita in a VT package. She also survived three tense dance-offs, which she described as "character building."
"Being in the dance offs, I'm kind of glad that happened because it was character building for me to see, 'OK, how am I gonna deal with this?' I've had to be kinder to myself," she explained during the series.
Flood of Support from the Strictly Family
Following her social media post, Amber was inundated with supportive messages from her Strictly peers. Winning pro Carlos Gu commented, "You were fabulous Amb. Xx," while Karen Carney added, "You are amazing" with heart emojis.
Judge Craig Revel Horwood remarked, "Well done for putting on an amazing show," and fellow professional dancer Lauren Oakley called Amber a "superstar."
In an emotional moment after her show dance, which scored 39 from the judges, Amber addressed her voters directly when prompted by Claudia Winkleman. "The feeling of people voting for you is a wild concept and it is such an overwhelming feeling," she said, fighting back tears. "You're the reason we're here, so I just want to say thank you so much."
She concluded her Strictly experience by stating the show had "completely changed" her and was "the greatest experience of my life." Amber now turns her attention back to the stage, preparing for her upcoming role in *Legally Blonde*.
