September 17th 2024.
Janette Manrara, a star dancer on Strictly Come Dancing, recently shared her experience of facing tough times during her first year on the show. She revealed that she heard whispers from other professionals who doubted her abilities and were waiting for her to fail. Janette joined the BBC series in 2013 and was partnered with fashion designer Julien Macdonald for her first season. It was also the year when her now-husband Aljaž Škorjanec, who was also a first-time pro on the show, ended up winning the competition with his partner Abbey Clancy.
At a recent launch event for her new book, Tiny Dancer, Big World, Janette opened up about her difficult first year on Strictly and how it impacted her. She shared that she always wanted to be a part of the show and was thrilled when she landed the job. However, she felt insecure about not having the same titles and experience as the other dancers on the show. Janette also mentioned that she was dating Aljaž at the time, and the thought of being able to stay together while working on the show was exciting for her.
However, Janette's first partner on the show, Julien, was also her friend, and she fondly remembers their time together. She shared that she always believed in her dancing, teaching, and choreography skills, but the constant whispers and pressure from others made her doubt herself. Janette admitted that she started believing that she wasn't good enough and couldn't handle the show's level of exposure.
But despite the doubts, Janette and Julien managed to make it through several dance-offs and prove that they were doing a good job. Janette also acknowledged that Aljaž had a different experience on the show, being the hottest man and getting a phenomenal partner in Abbey Clancy. She confessed that she felt like she wasn't enough and was ready to be replaced the following year.
Janette also shared that during the Strictly Live Tour, when Aljaž was busy with Abbey, she felt lonely and doubted her abilities even more. She called the period the toughest time of her life and admitted that she was too hard on herself. But she credits the show's producers and Aljaž for being her rock during that time. Janette also returned to the Burn The Floor show and visited her family in Miami, which helped her regain her confidence and feel grounded again.
Janette's new book, Tiny Dancer, Big World, talks about her journey of self-discovery and learning to love herself through four pillars - Acceptance, Reflection, The Work, and Discovery. She shared that writing the book was immensely therapeutic for her and helped her survive the madness of motherhood and work. She believes that her daughter Lyra came into her life at the right time, and if it had happened earlier, she might not have been as good a mom.
Despite the challenges she faced, Janette looks back on her first season of Strictly with only happy memories. She hopes that her book will help readers ask themselves important questions about their happiness and fulfillment in life. And as the new season of Strictly returns, Janette is back as a presenter, while Aljaž has returned as a pro on the show.
In the end, Janette shared that if anyone has a celebrity story, video, or pictures, they can reach out to The Agency entertainment team by emailing, calling, or visiting their Submit Stuff page. They would love to hear from you.
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