Tasha Ghouri soared to prominence in 2022 following her appearance on Love Island, where she met boyfriend Andrew Le Page and swiftly became one of Grazia's best-dressed islanders. Two summers on, Tasha has accumulated a loyal 1.4 million-follower fanbase, co-authored a book, Hits Different, hosted a podcast, Superpowers with Tasha, and advocated for issues close to her heart. Now, she is about to experience a 'dream come true' by appearing on the 22nd series of Strictly Come Dancing.
The news was revealed on KISS FM last month, where Tasha expressed her excitement. She also addressed something that is considered controversial in Strictly world - her background as a trained dancer. Often the decision to recruit celebrity participants with dancing experience, regardless of the form it takes, has been criticised by viewers, who argue it doesn't put everyone on a level playing field.
We saw this play out with Layton Williams last year. Some viewers complained that he had an unfair advantage due to his previous musical theatre experience. He admitted 'dance is in me', adding, 'it’s a core feeling and I love it and it’s my passion. But this world of Latin and Ballroom is completely new to me, so that’s what I’m excited to explore.' It's also worth noting many of the celebrities who compete have probably had some form of dance training at some point in their career.
Speaking to KISS FM hosts Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely, Tasha said that Strictly would be a new experience. She explained, 'I’ve not danced in quite a few years now, since Love Island my career has changed so much. I might not be good at [ballroom], like ballet, I’m not good at ballet, I’m trained in commercial, so I’m excited to learn these new styles.'
Tasha will be the second deaf contestant to appear on Strictly, following in the footsteps of 2021 winner Rose Ayling-Ellis.
'Rose messaged me saying well done and I look up to her [very much]. I think she's a great human,' Tasha says. 'I've spoken to her and met her, and she’s honestly such a lovely woman. I feel proud to be representing the deaf community as well. We both have such different experiences [of] being deaf growing up, so it's nice that I can bring something different to the table in terms of the cochlear implant and my journey. I’ve definitely got big footsteps to follow but she’s been amazing.'
Who is Tasha Ghouri?
Tasha, 25, is best known for her appearance on Love Island series eight, an opportunity which served as a launchpad for the lucrative and varied career she has embarked on since.
Since leaving the villa, Tasha has modelled for an array of brands, is a proud eBay pre-loved ambassador, and also counts commercial dancing (a style usually performed in a theatre or on a stage), writing and podcast hosting among her talents.
Tasha was born deaf and uses a cochlear implant - an electronic device that improves hearing. After flying the flag for her community as the first deaf contestant on Love Island, she has taken it one step further outside of the villa by becoming a deaf activist. In January, Tasha went viral for her Get Ready With Me TikTok, which she filmed without her cochlea implant to 'normalise deaf accents'.
'I want to do this for the people out there that struggle with confidence, who are still struggling to deal with their deaf accent,' she said. The term refers to the way those who are deaf or who have hearing loss sound when they speak.
In June, Tasha released her debut novel, Hits Different, with author Lizzie Huxley-Jones. The story follows Cassie, a young dancer who is deaf and discovers what she is truly capable of. The author wrote on Instagram, 'Growing up there wasn’t any representation on TV, in books etc and this was key when it came to Hits Different. Reading all of your reviews honestly has me beaming side to side, never in a million years did I think I would co-author a romance novel with a main character who’s deaf and wears a cochlear implant, people with disabilities can also find love, can be confident, can be resilient, can chase their dreams, we are also worthy. We accomplished the message of the book to the readers and what a beautiful journey it’s been!'
Tasha Ghouri and Andrew Le Page's relationship
Tasha and her boyfriend Andrew Le Page made the Love Island final in 2022, and have gone from strength to strength since finishing fourth. They live together in East London (Tasha is originally from North Yorkshire, while Andrew hails from Guernsey) and are highly supportive of one another's ventures. Sharing a sweet message on Instagram when the Strictly news broke, Andrew wrote, 'This is a dream come true and I'm so proud of you! You fully deserve this more than anyone. You've worked so hard to get here.'
Following a public vote, Tasha and Andrew were paired together from the beginning of Love Island. You may recall their brief Casa Amor flings with Billy Brown and Coco Lodge respectively (which delivered the timeless one-liner, 'I licked her t*t or whatever'). But they found their way back to one another and even showed their commitment by getting matching tattoos after the show finished.
What has Tasha Ghouri said about Strictly Come Dancing?
As well as addressing her dance background, Tasha said, 'Pinch me, I can't believe I'm going to be on Strictly Come Dancing! I’ve been watching the show since I was little – it's a firm Ghouri family favourite - so this is a total dream come true. I know it's going to be an unforgettable experience and I hope to represent and make everyone proud out on that dancefloor.'
Millie Payne is a News and Entertainment Writer for Grazia. She has specialised in showbiz interviews, features, articles and roundups for over three years and loves combining her love for writing, talking and all things popular culture.