Dancing on Ice star Vanessa Bauer is finally coming to terms with losing her dad thanks to TV strip show The Real Full Monty.
The professional skater was heartbroken when Marco died from cancer in 2021 and spent months crippled by grief and too devastated to even talk about it. But all that changed when she filmed this year’s series of The Real Full Monty.
Every year the show gets a bunch of celebs who have been affected by cancer to tell their stories before they bare all in front of a packed crowd. Doing the show meant Vanessa was surrounded by people who have an idea of what she’s going through, and it allowed her to talk about her pain openly for the first time.
She says: “My dad had cancer for six years and it wasn’t something I talked about on Dancing on Ice. I always felt like I couldn’t put it out into the universe and speak publicly about it. And after he died, it wasn’t something I dealt with. So agreeing to do The Real Full Monty was a big challenge for me.
(Image: ITV)
“But to be honest, it has really helped me learn to deal with the grief over my dad and figuring out what it means for me as a person. Taking part in the show encouraged me to speak about it openly in front of a bunch of strangers. It was very, very difficult. But it’s helped me and now I’m working through things.”
And it’s extra special for Vanessa because Marco was a big fan of the show. My dad used to watch the show when he was still alive,” she recalls. “We used to watch it together and he always used to say that I should go on it.
“So I know he’d be very proud of me for doing it.” Vanessa is now getting help to deal with her grief. She says: “I have my own therapist and counsellor I speak to about everything.” Doing The Real Full Monty has also helped Vanessa tackle her insecurities.
The German beauty is famed for her toned physique when she trains celebs on Dancing on Ice every year, but behind the scenes she has struggled when it comes to her body. She says: “When I was a teenager, I had an eating disorder and I was very self conscious. I thought my boobs were too small. I have body dysmorphia.
“But The Real Full Monty has made me feel confident for the first time. I got on stage and I talked about important topics. I didn’t think I’d ever do that publicly.”
This show is also a chance for Vanessa to be in the spotlight more than she is on Dancing on Ice. She says: “I do hope people are going to see a little bit more of me and understand a bit more about the way I work and think about life.”
The show is being presented by Coleen Nolan and Ashley Banjo while other celebs stripping off include reality star Gemma Collins, former royal butler Paul Burrell, rugby hunk Ben Cohen and presenter Julia Bradbury. They all have their own stories to tell that will leave viewers in tears.
“It was an incredible experience and the cast was supportive,” adds Vanessa. The 27-year-old is now feeling back to her best and gearing up for her sixth series on Dancing on Ice.
After finishing runner-up with Joey Essex earlier this year, Vanessa has been paired with Made In Chelsea hunk Miles Nazaire and they have already started training ahead of the series kicking off in the new year. She says: “I’m really excited. It’s my seventh year on the show and I couldn’t be more grateful to keep doing it.”
*The Real Full Monty will air on December 11 and 12 on ITV1.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
