Strictly Come Dancing's Zara McDermott says 'no pain no gain' before sharing 'guardian angel' to get her through

Zara McDermott is just days into Strictly Come Dancing training and she's already suffering. The former Love Island star will be seen making her debut in the BBC One dance contest this weekend.

She has already been working hard in the training room after singing up to the 2023 run of Strictly alongside 14 other celebrities. Fans will get to see which professional dancers they have been paired with during the launch show this Saturday (September 16) before the competition really begins the following week (Saturday, September 23) with the first live show.

And while it may not be considered an injury per say, Zara has shared a picture of her having pulled down her socks as she lay on the floor to reveal sore-looking blisters on the back of each foot. But it appears she was undeterred by her feet being crippled by the dancing, quipping: "No pain, no gain!"

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It comes after Zara said that her grandma will be her guardian angel when she eventually takes to the Strictlydancefloor. The 26-year-old, who is the first Love Island contestant to ever take part in the hit BBC show, shared her wish that her gran Winifred were still around to see her take part.

Zara said: "I remember watching the first series when I was seven, with my nan. We would watch the show and replicate the dances ourselves. She’s sadly passed away now but I just think that she would be over the moon. I feel like she’s looking down on me. She’s my little guardian angel."

Speaking of her preparations for Strictly, which could last up until Christmas if she makes it to the end, Zara shared: "I’m really into my exercise and my weight training and everything anyway. I’m doing