Professional dancer Amy Dowden has been turning heads with her stunning appearance during a sun-drenched holiday, sharing a sizzling snap on Instagram that highlighted her toned and glowing figure. The Strictly Come Dancing star, aged 35, slipped into a chic black bandeau-style bikini while enjoying downtime in an undisclosed location with her husband, Ben Jones.
Relaxing Getaway After Charity Event
In the photo posted to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday, Amy looked completely relaxed as she posed with a cocktail in hand, shielding her eyes with stylish black sunglasses. This well-deserved break comes after she recently reunited with Strictly judge Shirley Ballas for a charity event last month, as the show prepared to launch its nationwide tour.
Charity Reunion with Shirley Ballas
Amy appeared in a beaming photograph alongside Shirley Ballas and fellow Strictly professional dancer Carlos Gu after attending the UK Open Dance Festival. Shirley shared the snap on Instagram with a heartfelt caption expressing her admiration for both dancers. At the event, Amy looked sensational in a velvet royal blue gown featuring a plunging strapless neckline that showcased her toned physique.
Absence from Strictly Tour
Interestingly, neither Amy nor her close friend Carlos are participating in this year's Strictly Come Dancing tour, despite Carlos winning the most recent series with his celebrity partner, footballer Karen Carney, in December. Amy's own stint on the latest season ended prematurely when her celebrity partner Thomas Skinner became the first contestant eliminated from the competition.
Controversial Partner and Early Exit
Thomas Skinner, known from The Apprentice, had already generated controversy as a signing for the flagship BBC show due to his outspoken right-wing political views. The situation escalated when he confessed to cheating on his wife Sinead just weeks after their wedding. Despite growing public disapproval, Thomas later accused the BBC of rigging the public vote to ensure his early elimination following the affair scandal.
In December, Thomas shared a lengthy rant on social media platform X, claiming he had received an anonymous email from someone purporting to be a BBC executive. This email allegedly contained statistics suggesting he had received far more votes than were officially counted, with Thomas stating he had the message independently verified.
Poll Contradicts Vote Rigging Claims
However, subsequent reports contradicted Thomas's allegations. An independent poll conducted by website Strictly Spoiler, which surveyed 125,000 viewers completely separately from the BBC's official voting system, showed Thomas received just 1.4% of the public vote. The exit poll indicated clear evidence of his unpopularity, with only 1,805 votes recorded—the lowest among all contestants.
Amy's Personal Disappointment
Amy previously shared her disappointment that Thomas failed to attend the Strictly Come Dancing finale amid the controversy. Speaking on the Lorraine television program in December, she explained that her mind had been elsewhere due to the recent loss of her dance teacher, Phillip Perry, whom she described as being like a second father to her.
Amy expressed genuine sadness about Thomas's absence, stating she would have loved for him to experience what she called an incredibly fun and exciting final episode. She emphasized how much she owed her entire dancing career to her late teacher, making her emotional state during the finale particularly challenging.
Despite the professional setbacks and personal challenges, Amy continues to maintain her positive public presence, recently delighting fans with her holiday photos while preparing for future opportunities beyond the Strictly tour.
