FORMER Miss Universe Ireland Aishah Akorede has been revealed as the first celebrity for the eighth series of Dancing With The Stars.
The 25-year-old, who represented Ireland in El Salvador last year, is also a legal eagle and holds a Master of Laws in International Corporate Governance from Queen’s University, Belfast.
But she admits her dance skills are limited, despite making a return to a childhood hobby in her 20s.
Aishah said: “I’m mostly excited about learning how to dance like a ballroom dancer, to be honest.
“I did a little bit of ballet growing up, but it’s nothing compared to any of this.
“I did ballet from the age of four to 15, but I had to stop. I’m like a footballer that just never got to go professional because of a knee injury.
“But during the pandemic, I ended up going back to ballet at the age of 24.
“I’m 25 now and I’m the old lady in the class, which is crazy to say that a 25-year-old is an old lady.”
Aishah is no stranger to television after scooping the top prize on Discovery+ series Beauty and the Geek UK alongside her ‘geek’ teammate Martin back in 2022.
But the Kildare woman admits lifting the Glitterball trophy on Dancing With the Stars won’t be as easy.
She said: “I’m not a very competitive person, and people always think that girls in pageantry are really competitive.
“Everything I do in life, I kind of do with no expectations and with the aim of just enjoying the experience and whatever comes out of it.
“So hopefully I do come out on top, but even if I don’t, I’ll just genuinely be so grateful for the opportunity.”
While the top model is currently pursuing a qualification in Chartered Governance, as well as working as a model, her great passion is her work as founder of Recrowned Ireland – a social justice initiative aimed at helping women feel comfortable, confident and aware.
Another former Miss Universe Ireland and fellow model Gráinne Gallanagh was a runner-up in the 2020 series of Dancing With The Stars.
The ten remaining celebrity contestants joining the new series of Dancing with the Stars will be announced each day this week.
STEPPING OFF FLOOR
Celebs taking part in the new series of DWTS face an extra judge on the panel next year as two-time winner and professional dancer Karen Byrne joins longstanding experts Loraine Barry, Brian Redmond and Arthur Gourounlian.
Karen revealed: “It will feel strange sitting on the other side of the desk.
“I can’t believe it. I’ll have to pinch myself! It doesn’t feel real. I don’t think it will feel real until I sit in the chair.
“I’ve always looked at the judges’ seats and thought that must be the best seat in the house. And oh my god I get to hold a paddle!”
The Ballyfermot woman was a 24-year-old Latin dance champ with zero TV experience when TV producers cast her in series one of Dancing With The Stars back in 2017.
Karen previously told The Irish Sun: “I went into that show with not a clue what I had signed up for, I didn’t know about live TV. For instance, I didn’t know the red light meant we were live.”
Yet Karen choreographed one of the most celebrated dance routines in the history of DWTS during her opening season when she did the Dessie Swim with Sunday Game host Des Cahill.
Jaws dropped across the nation as sportscaster Des, dressed as Austin Powers, swam across the dancefloor with Karen as a 60s dollybird.
Karen said: “People had been watching Des for years on RTE. No one could imagine Des would then shuffle along on his bum across the dancefloor dressed as Austin Powers. This was something the Irish public had never seen.”
Dancing with the Stars, which kicks off in January, will again be hosted by Jennifer Zamparelli and Doireann Garrihy.