Maisie Smith has revealed she has gained weight since appearing as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing.
While many contestants on the dance show shed pounds due to the rigorous rehearsals, the EastEnders actress, 19, admitted for her it’s been the opposite.
Speaking to the Daily Star, fitness enthusiast Maisie told how since the gyms are currently closed, she isn’t getting the same level of exercise she usually would.
Change: Maisie Smith has revealed she has gained weight since appearing as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing
She said: ‘I’ve put on weight! I make dinners at the weekend to last the whole week and I eat them within two days.
‘The gyms are closed and I’m a gym freak – that’s where I feel happiest – but I don’t feel like I’m lacking.
‘In the first lockdown I struggled without the gym, but this time around I haven’t felt that. I’m getting so strong every day. And dancing is the most fun!’
The TV star, who is partnered with Gorka Marquez on the show, recently opened up about her body confidence struggles and revealed how she used to ‘hate’ her legs.
Lockdown: Fitness enthusiast Maisie told how since the gyms are currently closed, she isn’t getting the same level of exercise she usually would
Maisie shared five photos taken from different angles of her leaving the gym in October and explained that she always worried about ‘cellulite’ on her legs.
Writing in the caption, Maisie began: ‘Here lies a collection of photos taken at the exact same time, however, from different angles, under different lighting.
‘The past few years I’ve been VERY insecure about my legs. I covered them up as much possible. No matter how many people told me ‘cellulite is natural.. everyone has it..’ I still hated them.’
Despite having initially negative feelings toward her body, Maisie said she’s learned to ‘accept’ what she first deemed as ‘flaws’ and now sees them as ‘qualities’.
She said: ‘I’ve put on weight! I make dinners at the weekend to last the whole week and I eat them within two days’
And while Maisie admitted she doesn’t completely ‘love’ her body, the TV star insisted she’s on the journey to and wanted to share her story so her social media followers could feel confident about themselves too.
‘It’s taken me a while but I’m starting to accept these aspects of myself that I’ve always seen as ‘flaws’,’ she continued.
‘I wore gym shorts (out of the house) for the FIRST time a couple of months ago n I was so so proud of myself. I wish I could I say that I LOVE my body but I’m still working on that.
The star added: ‘The reason I posted this was because I understand that it’s SO hard to love yourself and see your ‘flaws’ as ‘qualities’. We ALL have things we want to change about ourselves.
From the heart: Maisie recently penned a heartfelt post about her body confidence struggles
‘But I hope this can help other people feel more confident about their own insecurities. BECAUSE YOU ARE FRIGGING BEAUTIFUL. And because self love is the best love.’
The teen landed in the Strictly bottom two last week despite receiving her highest score of the series.
Admitting she struggles with her nerves, Maisie said: ‘The pressure gets to me… even this interview I was so nervous. When I’m nervous I have this serious expression so people think I’m over confident.’
Gorka backed her up, as he told Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield: ‘You know what, she’s the opposite of confident.
‘I think because she’s an actress she gets into character and looks confident but I can tell you she is always like, “Gorka I haven’t got it, I don’t have the dance, I don’t know what to do.”
Honest: Maisie and Gorka Marquez made an appearance on Wednesday’s This Morning, and claimed: ‘When I’m nervous I have this serious expression so people think I’m over confident’
Despite being in the dance off twice, Maisie said she’s received a lot of support from former stars who have told her not to be ‘upset by this’.
She added: ‘Everyone has ups and downs, I’m not letting it get to me, we’re still here and we’re going to power through,’ she said.
Maisie went on: ‘I’ll be honest I was more upset that I kind of felt guilty because I felt I was the one that ended Max [George] and Dianne’s [Buswell] journey on the show, same with Caroline [Quentin], that’s what hit me more.
‘In regards to the bottom two it can happen to anyone, that’s the point of this show you have no idea who it’s going to be. Week one it was hard, no one expects it no one wants to be there.’
Gorka added: ‘I think because she’s an actress she gets into character and looks confident but I can tell you she is always like, “Gorka I haven’t got it, I don’t have the dance, I don’t know what to do.” ‘