As the final of Strictly Come Dancing approaches, contestant Karen Carney has opened up about her struggles with the show’s strict regulations regarding footwear. Carney, alongside her dance partner Carlos Gu, is competing for the coveted Glitterball trophy in the show’s finale, set to air tonight at 19:00 on BBC One and iPlayer.
In a candid conversation with Olympic champion Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill on her Gold Minds podcast, Carney revealed that she faced challenges adapting to the high-heeled shoes required by the competition. The former England footballer shared how she initially performed in flat shoes during her opening week, which helped her excel in the Jive, describing them as “like football boots.”
Strictly Regulations and Personal Struggles
Carney’s success was not without its hurdles. She admitted to Ennis-Hill that while she felt comfortable in her initial footwear, the transition to heels proved difficult. “Oh yeah, honestly, that in itself is like… my heels for last week didn’t come until the day before,” she explained. Carney expressed her hope that the shoes would not arrive, as she felt a greater sense of comfort in her previous choice.
Despite her pleas to the producers to allow her to forgo the heels for one dance, the response was firm. “They were like, ‘if you wear your black shoes, which would look horrendous, you will get marked down,'” she recounted. Carney highlighted her frustration, questioning whether her performance would improve if she felt more comfortable. “They were like, ‘you cannot, it’s like the rules, you’ve got to wear them’,” she stated, reflecting on the inflexibility of the show’s regulations.
Building Confidence on the Dance Floor
Despite the challenges, Carney has captivated both the panel and audiences with her performances throughout the series. She has gained confidence, particularly after facing online criticism during her time as a football pundit. “For probably the last five or six years I’ve been open and honest about how I’ve been crushed quite a lot in terms of my confidence,” she revealed. This journey has led her to embrace the opportunity presented by Strictly Come Dancing. “I knew that Strictly would be the thing that would fix me,” she added.
As Carney and Gu prepare to compete against George Clarke and Alexis Warr, as well as Amber Davies and her partner Nikita Kuzmin, the excitement for the final builds. With her remarkable performances and personal growth, Karen Carney stands as a testament to resilience and determination in the face of challenges.
The final of Strictly Come Dancing promises to be an exhilarating event, showcasing the talents of this year’s contestants while highlighting the unique stories that unfold behind the scenes. Audiences can tune in tonight to witness who will take home the coveted Glitterball trophy.
