Grainne Gallanagh left the Dancing With The Stars set in tears during dress rehearsals after an emotional week.
The Co Donegal beauty broke down as she struggled with the steps and her pro partner Kai Widdrington missed practice due to illness.
She revealed that crying was the only way to overcome the way she was feeling – because people don’t get to see that once the show goes live on Sunday.
The model told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “I am not going to lie, I am such an emotional person. When I am struggling with something, crying is my way of releasing it.
“We were both just exhausted from all of the hours of training and it was just such an intense experience.
“People don’t see that side of it, they see the glamorous Sunday night performance. The polished performance.
“It is easy to forget how much work goes into the show and it can be a very emotional experience.
“A lot of the cast were feeling the same last week and we all want to get to the final. Now that we can see a finish line, it has become a lot more intense.
“It was an emotional week and I really struggled with the samba. I was on such a high after I got through and I just can’t stop smiling.
“I hadn’t written myself off but I was worried because I was in the bottom half of the leaderboard.
“I knew that I wasn’t entirely myself on screen and I was worried that it might show.”
Grainne said her fellow contestants and show executives were quick to come to her side after seeing her crying backstage.
She added: “The cast and the production team are very good, there is always somebody there to talk to.
“I was so upset and I just needed a minute and there is always someone to ask if you are OK.
“The cast all get on great together and there is no cattiness, I am really good friends with everybody.”
This week, her boyfriend Ryan will be in the audience to cheer her on and that moral support makes a massive difference during the show – especially when somebody is eliminated.
Her pro partner Kai is still not feeling very well after falling sick last week which means rehearsals were made even harder this week.
But Grainne is trying to use medical training as a nurse to help where possible.
She said: “It is hard for him to put in the energy for rehearsals.
“I am trying to help Kai but we don’t really know what is wrong with him.
“He is quite sore and we thought he might have had food poisoning, we are not really sure what is going on.
“I am trying to comfort him and I hope he feels better in time for the show.”
The couple also have the added pressure of performing two individual dances this week but Grainne said the dances “are more her” so she is enjoying rehearsals a lot more.
She added: “I can’t sugar coat it, it is very hard and we have to split our time evenly between them because they are both being scored.”
