Tasha Ghouri has said it has been an "absolute dream" to inspire others within the deaf community by performing on Strictly Come Dancing with her bedazzled cochlear implant.
The Love Island star has impressed the judges throughout the dance competition with her technical ability and flair and she was the first in this series to get a score of 10 and a perfect 40.
Ghouri and her professional partner Aljaz Skorjanec will perform three more routines on Saturday in a bid to win the glitterball trophy.
Ahead of the final, she said: "It’s been an absolute dream, especially bedazzling my cochlear implant."
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She praised the show’s costume team who have been adding diamantes to it each week so her costumes match the implant, which is an electronic device that can help provide a sensation of hearing to those who have severe to profound hearing loss.
"The amount of messages I’ve got from – especially younger women, younger children, teenagers – who have said ‘I felt represented because I’ve seen you on TV, I started decorating mine as well’, and that’s the power of representation", she said.
"It’s so important to have that, especially with Chris (McCausland) as well. I feel like it’s just been such a special year to be part of and representation is so important to have and I feel so passionate about it.
"Honestly, it’s been an absolute dream, and I feel so thankful to have the opportunity to be able to do that and to help people find their confidence and to believe in themselves."
Ghouri is the BBC show’s second deaf contestant after actress Rose Ayling-Ellis competed in 2021, while comedian McCausland is the first blind celebrity to take part.
Her success on the show has come despite facing a number of challenges, including having to navigate songs which are difficult for her to pick up.
"Musically the beats are so different so each week you are doing such different rhythms, different counts, so I’m having to really focus on that, and that can be quite draining in a way because I’m really happy to focus even more," she explained.
"Even on Saturday as well, all the magic is happening, the craziness, I’m literally in my dressing room with my implant out. I just literally need time out from everything because it can get quite overwhelming with a lot of over-sensory load."
She praised the Strictly team and her dance partner for their support, adding: "I can’t even put into words how amazing it’s been.
"But also you get the challenges to overcome them, it makes you stronger, it makes you grow even more. So in your way, I see it as a positive."
During Saturday’s final, the pair have chosen to reprise their elegant American Smooth to Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi, which secured the first score of 40 of the series.
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They will also return to their couple’s choice dance to What About Us by P!nk at the judges’ request, as well as performing a new show dance to Sing, Sing, Sing by Benny Goodman.
Skorjanec revealed he has wanted to perform this new dance since the beginning of the series but it did not fit in with previous weeks.
He added: "I’m really chuffed that we’re doing what we’re doing for show dance. I think it suits you (Ghouri) to a tee.
"It’s very difficult. We’re still learning it and I think it’s difficult for both of us, and I think we will have a really, really cool dance ready and hopefully it all comes together, which it will because it always does in the end. But I’m very excited for the final."
The Slovenian dancer, who returned to the show this series after a two-year break, said he "respects and appreciates the opportunity more" this time round than when he first joined Strictly in 2013.
The 34-year-old added: "I couldn’t have dreamt to do this with anyone more kind and respectful and talented. I’ve danced more in the last three months or so than I did ever in my life."
Ghouri will compete against McCausland and his partner Dianne Buswell; Miranda actress Sarah Hadland and her dance partner Vito Coppola; and JLS star JB Gill and professional dancer Lauren Oakley in grand finale.
Strictly Come Dancing: The Final will air live on Saturday at 6pm, on BBC One.
Source: Press Association
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