Amy Dowden feeling 'fitter and stronger than ever'
Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden is feeling fitter and stronger than ever following her health battles, and she is also "really happy and healthy".
Amy Dowden is feeling "fitter and stronger" than she has "ever been".
The Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer, 36, battled stage three breast cancer in 2023, before getting the all-clear in February 2024 after undergoing a mastectomy and chemotherapy, and the star is feeling "really happy and healthy" now.
Speaking to new! magazine, she said: "I’m feeling really happy and healthy.
"I’m feeling fitter and stronger than I’ve ever been."
Amy was competing with celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton - who is Kim Kardashian's hairdresser - in this year's Strictly, but the pair were the first couple voted off the series.
She added: "I was having the best time with Chris.
"We’re still the best of friends."
Amy also told how she has kept in touch with several of her former celebrity dance partners, including comedian Brian Conley and McFly star Tom Fletcher.
She added: "You share a unique experience together. When you’re in that training room, it’s intense, but it’s amazing. You form friendships for life.
"Brian Conley MC’d my wedding, Tom Fletcher sang at it. JJ Chalmers wore the kilt he wore for our Viennese waltz on my big day.
"I spoke to Karim Zeroual yesterday, who I made the final with in 2019."
Amy admitted she was "heartbroken" after she and Chris were voted off the series first this year.
She said: "Watching Chris grow in confidence, although it was short-lived, only two weeks, that is what I'll take away from it.
"And do you know what? Obviously, I'm heartbroken. It seems to be my luck the last few years, but you know what?
My heart is only breaking, because I don't get to dance with you on Monday, but I get a friend for life."
Chris explained: "I think it's been such a whirlwind of emotion. I'm 43, I got good at what I do, which is hair.
"And to come into something like this, I felt so out of my comfort zone. I saw myself in a way I'd never seen myself, and it challenged me in ways I never knew I could be challenged.
"But I'm very grateful for everyone that's been involved. Now, obviously, all the celebrities up there, all of the cast and crew, it's just been so amazing to be a part of such a special thing that I grew up watching, and I feel very proud to be a part of it."
