Gemma Atkinson was told she was ‘too muscular’ for Strictly Come Dancing

Gemma Atkinson was told she was "too muscular" to do ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.
The former ‘Emmerdale’ star has poured her blood, sweat and tears into training for the ballroom and latin show over the past three months and, not only is she pleased her hard work has secured her a place in tonight’s (16.12.17) final, she’s thrilled she can rub it in the faces of those who slammed her for being bigger than most dancers.
Speaking to the MailOnline, she said: "Obviously I’m into training and going to the gym, I’m not your typical petite kind of dancer’s physique. I’m broad, I’m tall and everyone said there’s no way you’ll ever be able to do it because you’re too muscular or because I’m too much of a tomboy and I’m too much of this.
"Obviously getting here is a massive achievement but I love the fact, women who perhaps do weight training or do boxing or don’t like wearing dresses at the weekends or don’t like the spray tans have said to me, ‘I’m going to try and do some dancing because you can do it’ and that’s what I like.
"The fact that you shouldn’t be fitted into a stereotype because of your build or what you’re naturally good at or what you gravitate to as a hobby."
The 33-year-old star never thought she’d ever wear a dress while dancing because she feels more comfortable in a boxing ring but she’s glad she took on the challenge.
She explained: "I never in a million years thought I’d have a frock on dancing, I feel more comfortable in a boxing ring but I’ve done it so I’d like to think that women who aren’t little, five foot and tiny that you can do it at my height and my build and you can enjoy it so that’s what I’ve enjoyed about it."
And the blonde beauty has admitted it will be the "icing on the cake" if she manages to beat Alexandra Burke, Debbie McGee and Joe McFadden in tonight’s finale.
She said: "Obviously that would be the icing on the cake but as cheesy as it sounds cheesy, I said to my mum the glitterball for me is literally meeting Alijaz [her professional partner] because regardless I’ve got a friend for life."