Love Islander Liberty Poole says she will be flying the flag for shapely women on Dancing on Ice.
The 22-year-old will skate live for the first time on Sunday and hopes to inspire other girls to feel confident about their bodies, whatever their size or shape.
The chirpy Brummie plans to bring plenty of “sass” to the series, and will wear lots of red – her favourite colour.
Influencer Liberty has been training hard with her professional partner Joe Johnson.
But she says a lot of that hard work has been undone by feasting on McDonald’s and takeaways.
She chuckles: “I don’t think I’ve lost weight… probably because I’m on the go, so I eat Maccys all the time!
“I’ll definitely never be one of them girls that have a six-pack, but I’m enjoying it.
“I think I’ve got more fit in terms of fitness levels but in terms of figure, I’m still quite curvy and that… just own it.
“In the first performance, I love the colour red, love wearing red lippy and stuff, so you’ll definitely notice red.
“And one thing I will bring to the ice is my personality so I’m going to try and do my best and give it all the sass and confidence on the ice.”
Liberty was one of the most popular contestants on Love Island last year.
Viewers really got behind her when she left the villa heartbroken after it emerged contestant Jake Cornish’s feelings weren’t as genuine as she thought.
Now Liberty has put that behind her and believes her warm and natural personality has made her relatable to public.
She goes on: “I get loads of messages off girls saying it’s nice they can relate to me, saying I’m a down-to-earth person – and I am, really. They find it refreshing.
“I still see myself as a member of the public, to be honest.
“I don’t go out expecting to get recognised, but I guess some people do. And it’s nice when people say I’ve inspired them in some way as well, so it’s really nice to here. I just want to be me.”
Liberty, who has raked in £1.7million since appearing on Love Island, says she has thrown herself into training for DoI and loves learning all the new moves and dance routines.
She has also developed a strong bond with her skating partner Joe and says they enjoy lots of banter.
“You don’t realise how hard training is going to be but I’m enjoying every second,” she says. “It’s really rewarding because it’s hard when you’re trying to learn a new skill but as soon as you master it, it is the best feeling ever.
“And yeah, I get on so well with Joe – it’s constant bants.”
As well as the support from the public, Liberty has got the backing of her fellow Love Islanders Kaz Kamwi, Faye Winter and former DoI star Maura Higgins, who told her to enjoy every second of the show.
She expects Kaz and Faye will be in the audience watching her first performance tonight – and cheering her on.
Excited Liberty says: “We was in the dance studio yesterday just having the best time and I think you’ll definitely see on the ice how much fun we have together.
“I am looking forward to Sunday. I am nervous as well, which I think is normal, but I’m excited to show what we’ve been working on.”
Liberty says that if she falls, she will take a leaf out of the book of fellow reality star Gemma Collins – who famously leapt straight up after a crash in the 2019 series.
Tumbles have caused plenty of injuries over the years on DoI. S Club 7 singer Rachel Stevens, 40, is the latest victim and has had to pull out of Sunday's show after injuring her wrist. She hopes to be back next week.
For tomorrow, that leaves Liberty up against soccer star Paul Gascoigne’s son Regan – an early favourite to win – Paralympian Stef Reid, former rugby star Ben Foden and rocker Connor Ball, from The Vamps.
Whoever finishes bottom in tonight’s show faces a skate-off against Loose Women’s Ria Hebden, who received the fewest viewer votes last Sunday.
- Dancing on Ice, ITV, Sunday night, 6.30pm
