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Strictly Come Dancing star Michelle Tsiakkas has shared a poignant post about going through challenges and coming out the other side after it was revealed she has been cut from the show.
The dancer, 30, is said to be among four pros who have been culled from the line-up in as the BBC tries to ‘completely refresh’ the series after a slew of scandals and the departure of presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
And while she has yet to comment on her alleged axing, Michelle took to her Instagram on Sunday to share a telling post to mark International Women’s Day.
Alongside an adorable childhood snap of herself, she penned a touching message about her younger self, where she said she had gone through challenging times but had ‘never lost her sparkle’.
While in another apparent allusion to her Strictly axing, she also declared that strength was ‘about finding the light again, even after the storm.’
She penned: ‘From the little girl with sparkle in her eyes, full of hope and innocent dreams… to the woman who has seen more of life than she ever imagined.
‘There were moments that shaped her, challenged her and quietly changed her. But somehow, through it all, she never lost her sparkle.
‘Because strength isn’t about never breaking… it’s about finding the light again, even after the storm.
‘To every woman who is still standing, still growing, still shining in her own way – may you never forget the little girl inside you who first believed you could do anything Happy International Women’s Day. ✨’
Michelle was flooded with supportive comments from her fellow Strictly stars Amy Dowden, Vito Coppola and Dianne Buswell and TV presenter Scarlett Moffatt – who competed in last year’s Christmas special.
Her longtime boyfriend and dance partner, Simone Arena, reshared her post to his own Instagram Stories in a show of public support, penning in the caption: ‘I love you ❤️ I stand with and by you today and everyday ! Always ❤️’.
While many fans also took to the comments section to praise Michelle and voice their hopes that the reports she had been axed were false.
They begged: ‘Tell me it’s not true WE LOVE YOU MICHELLE ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️’; ‘Oh no, is it true? Why?’;
‘I am so proud of everything you have ever been and everything you always will be. So many beautiful and exciting opportunities and adventures are still to come! You are an inspiration, today & everyday’;
‘I really hope its untrue, and you’re not dropped from scd. A few could be dropped, not you!’
Michelle joined the BBC competition in 2022 alongside fellow professionals including Vito, Carlos Gu and Lauren Oakley.
However, she didn’t get a celebrity partner until two years later, when she was paired with Jamie Borthwick in the 2024 series – with the couple making it to week 10 before being eliminated.
But the following year, Michelle was once again left without a partner, though she did compete in the Christmas special alongside former Westlife star Brian McFadden.
Her sole partner in the main series, EastEnders actor Jamie, was at the centre of two Strictly scandals last year, including using an ableist slur backstage in Blackpool and allegedly being referred to as ‘spit roast boy’ by Wynne Evans during a photocall.
Along with Michelle, it has also been reported that dancers Nadiya Bychkova, Gorka Marquez and Luba Mushtuk have all also been dropped from the line-up.
Nadiya, 35, joined the show eight years ago and in that time partnered celebrities including TV presenter Dan Walker, singer Matt Goss, actor Davood Ghadami and rugby player Chris Robshaw.
But she wasn’t asked to be a part of the Strictly Live tour this year and has now been told that her time on the dancefloor is over.
Friends say that the Ukrainian five times World Champion is naturally ‘very disappointed’ but is in talks over the possibility of remaining a part of the Strictly family by working behind the scenes on choreography.
Luba, 36, joined the show the year after Nadiya, partnering with the likes of rower James Cracknell, former NFL star Jason Bell and TV presenter Nick Knowles, with her longest stint in the competition being with actor Adam Thomas, finishing in 9th place.
But like Michelle and Gorka, she did not receive a celebrity dance partner in the most recent series.
Spanish dancer Gorka has been on the show for a decade and has reached the final three times, with partners Alexandra Burke, Maisie Smith and Helen Skelton.
He received a celebrity partner every year except for in 2019 and again last year, because he was also filming the Spanish version of the show, but was still in the group numbers.
Gorka met his British fiancé Gemma Atkinson on the show in 2017, when she was competing with Aljaž Škorjanec, and the couple have gone on to welcome two children together.
Meanwhile, friends of Nadiya have reportedly accused the BBC of ageism following the mass cull of dancers.
‘Her axing smacks of ageism,’ they told The Sun. ‘Nadiya’s one of the most popular dancers so she can’t understand why she won’t be back, she’s devastated. The show is her life.’
Producers are said to want a ‘fresh start’ for the dance show with new presenters to be announced soon after Tess and Claudia decided it was time for them to go.
Strictly has been hit by a string of scandals including claims of drug taking and abusive behaviour towards contestants by pro dancers.
Pros Giovanni Pernice and Graziano di Prima both left the show in 2024, with Graziano going after allegations that he had stamped on his partner Zara McDermott.
Giovanni was investigated by the BBC over bullying allegations made by his partner Amanda Abbington, some of which were upheld.
There is no suggestion that any of the pros going as part of the Strictly refresh in the wake of the Departure of Claudia and Tess have been involved in any wrongdoing.
