Zara McDermott says she was bullied throughout school and there wasn’t a day where she didn’t experience it. 

The Strictly Come Dancing star, 27, revealed that her teachers did nothing as she was continually mocked by her peers.

Speaking on the Auto Trader’s Show On The Road podcast, Zara said: “There really wasn’t a day where I didn’t experience it.

I would go in every day just thinking, what’s it going to be like today?

“I got bullied up until I was in Year 13 so it was my entire experience. There really wasn’t a day where I didn’t experience it.”

Recalling the harrowing ordeal, Zara continued: “I remember being mocked by my entire science class.

It was my form class and they were making really nasty gestures towards me all at the same time and thought it was really funny. My teacher didn’t really do anything.”

The documentary maker added: “It was really hard because my mum worked at the school as well.

So I used to go and eat my lunch with her because I didn’t really have any friends. That’s why I’m so close to her now.”

In July, it was revealed that Zara’s Strictly partner Graziano Di Prima had been axed from the BBC programme. A spokesperson for Graziano, 30, admitted that the professional dancer “kicked” Zara during one of their training sessions in 2023.

Zara remained silent about the ordeal but shared her side of the story after the BBC launched an investigation into the Strictly professionals’ conduct.

Releasing a statement on social media, Zara admitted she “wrestled with the fear of opening up” about her experiences.

She said: “I was scared about public backlash, I was scared about my future, I was scared of victim shaming.” Despite saying her Strictly experience was everything she could have dreamed of, Zara admitted things were different in training.

The former Love Island star continued: “However, my experience inside the training room was very different. Reports have been made about my treatment on the show and there were witnesses to some events, as well as videos of particular incidents which are incredibly distressing to watch.”

Zara added: “After a lot of conversations with those I love, I’ve gained the strength to face these fears. And when I was asked to speak to the BBC, I spoke candidly about my time on the show.”
Zara McDermott has opened up about her experiences with bullying, revealing that she was a target throughout her school years.

The 27-year-old Strictly Come Dancing star shared that the bullying was relentless, with not a single day going by where she didn’t face some form of harassment.

She recalled one particularly traumatic incident in her science class, where her peers ganged up on her and made hurtful gestures while her teacher stood by and did nothing to intervene.

Despite the challenges she faced at school, Zara found solace in her mother’s company, often choosing to eat lunch with her at the school where her mother worked.

This bond with her mother helped her navigate the difficulties of not having any friends to turn to during those tough times. In a more recent development, Zara’s Strictly partner Graziano Di Prima was removed from the show after allegedly kicking her during a training session.

Zara has since spoken out about the incident, admitting that she initially hesitated to share her story due to fear of backlash and victim shaming. However, she found the courage to speak up after conversations with loved ones and decided to address the issue with the BBC.

While Zara described her overall Strictly experience as a dream come true, she acknowledged that there were challenges behind the scenes. She mentioned reports of mistreatment and distressing incidents captured on video, prompting her to confront her fears and speak out about her time on the show.

Despite the difficulties she has faced, Zara’s bravery in sharing her story serves as an inspiration to others who may be experiencing similar struggles.

Her willingness to speak up and seek justice for herself highlights the importance of standing up against bullying and mistreatment in any form. Let’s continue to support and uplift each other, creating a community where everyone feels safe and respected.