Rachel Riley has credited dancing with helping heal her broken heart.
The ‘Countdown’ mathematician – who ended her marriage to Jamie Gilbert after just 16 months last year – has continued using the ballroom skills she learned on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ last year and reveals that throwing shapes to Latin music makes her feel "brighter".
Rachel told The Sun newspaper: "I love it, it’s brilliant. You’ve got the days when it makes you feel a lot brighter … a little bit of exercise makes you happy, especially when you’ve got music involved.
"I’d recommend it to anyone. A little bit of Latin music brings your spirits up."
The 28-year-old beauty says ‘Strictly’ had an enormous impact on her body and she now dances regularly to maintain the toned physique she developed on the show.
She explained: "My body changed completely on ‘Strictly’ — even my belly-button wasn’t my belly-button. I grew up playing football and netball but I hadn’t done any dancing before. I didn’t realise just how physical it was.
"I’ve started doing zumba classes off the back of ‘Strictly’. It’s kind of all the Latin dances as an exercise class. In classes no one is watching and judging you but you get all the exercise and fun of it."
Rachel is still good friends with fellow ‘Strictly’ stars Sophie Ellis-Bextor and last year’s ballroom champion, Abbey Clancey.
She added: "I’ve made a few good friends on ‘Strictly’. We went out for a girls’ night a few weeks ago. It was good to catch up."
Rachel Riley feels ‘brighter’ after dancing
