Dancing On Ice 2023 star Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu spoke out on the show on Sunday night, after a tough week for the Love Island 2022 winner.
Ekin-Su revealed she was "upset" and left crying after finding herself in the dreaded skate-off - with her performance sparking over 100 viewer complaints to Ofcom over her routine a week ago.
Viewers claimed her outfit and her sexy routine was "inappropriate" for a "family show".
Ekin-Su took to Twitter with a defiant message in the fallout, encouraging her fans and followers to be themselves.
Now, Sunday night's show saw the reality TV favourite prepared to give it all she had in the skate-off as she wanted to "prove herself".
Ahead of her having to perform again in the skate-off with skating partner Brendyn Hatfield, the star admitted she cried for days but told herself to be strong.
As she spoke to host Holly Willoughby, Ekin-Su said: "I'm not gonna lie, I was really upset over the past two days. I questioned myself and what I had done wrong.
"[I said to myself] you know what, stop this crying Ekin. You are a strong woman, take on the notes from the judges, work hard and I really wanted to prove myself.
"We’ve been working really hard and I am here today."
It comes after her performance in the show’s first episode sparked over 112 complaints to the TV regulator Ofcom by Wednesday, as viewers at the time claimed it was "not appropriate" before the watershed.
Love Island winner Ekin-Su scored a total vote of 21.5 points from the judges, as Ashley Banjo gave her a 5.5, Oti Mabuse scored her a 6, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean both a 5.
Yet, it proved to be a tough start to the series for Love Island reigning champ Ekin-Su, who landed in the bottom two after she received the least amount of public votes.
Ekin-Su appeared noticeably gobsmacked at the result, which put her at risk of going home in the first week, and quickly turned to talk with her dance partner Brendyn Hatfield.
Meanwhile, Ekin-Su shared a defiant message following the complaints this week.
The Love Island winner hit back with a positive message of self-acceptance, as she told her fans on Twitter : "Don’t ever compare yourself to others. You are not a copy, you are an original. Craft your own individuality and sense of style! And just be yourself.”
In another tweet, Ekin-Su added: "Don’t study me. You won’t graduate."
Dancing On Ice airs Sundays at 6:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
