Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri has won over a whole new legion of fans with her moving and simply stunning performances on Strictly.
The 26-year-old quickly became one of the bookies’ favourites after cha cha cha-ing onto the famous dance floor with returning professional dancer Aljaž Škorjanec in September, and she’s inspired so many by proudly wearing her cochlear implant.
And for Tasha, her Strictly experience couldn’t have gone better. “It has been incredible, a dream come true, and I’m so glad I get to do it with Aljaž,” she tells us. “He is an amazing dancer and a brilliant person so I’m glad I get to share this journey with him.”
Here, chatting to new before the semi-finals, Tasha, who was born deaf, talks about inspiring a community, meeting Love Island boyfriend Andrew Le Page, 29, and her Christmas plans…
Hi, Tasha! We’ve loved you on Strictly! You’re such a trailblazer for the deaf community and have raised so much awareness. What has been the response from others in the community?
Honestly, it’s just been so lovely and positive. When I was growing up I had no deaf role models and there was no representation on TV. So for me to go on a huge show like Strictly, showing off and not hiding my cochlear implant, and showing people that it is OK, you can achieve your goals and dreams, that means the world. I’m doing it for them.
What would you like to see happen next in terms of diversity and awareness for the deaf community?
There has been progress and steps in the right direction where as a society we are recognising disabilities and are slowly becoming more inclusive, but it isn’t enough and we are still so far away from where we need to be. I’d love to live in a world where we have a reality show line-up of all disabilities or a soap where we have more than just one deaf person, because that is real life. I’d like people to see British Sign Language not as a language for deaf people, but a language full stop. Subtitles are also so important on planes, TV and social media. There is so much more that can be changed.
What would you say to others with hearing loss, who perhaps are nervous about wearing a cochlear implant?
That it isn’t a disability but your superpower. I’ve been that girl who struggled at school because teachers turned their back on me, who wanted to hide her implant, but I have realised that my deafness makes me really powerful and I now e...
The 26-year-old quickly became one of the bookies’ favourites after cha cha cha-ing onto the famous dance floor with returning professional dancer Aljaž Škorjanec in September, and she’s inspired so many by proudly wearing her cochlear implant.
And for Tasha, her Strictly experience couldn’t have gone better. “It has been incredible, a dream come true, and I’m so glad I get to do it with Aljaž,” she tells us. “He is an amazing dancer and a brilliant person so I’m glad I get to share this journey with him.”
Here, chatting to new before the semi-finals, Tasha, who was born deaf, talks about inspiring a community, meeting Love Island boyfriend Andrew Le Page, 29, and her Christmas plans…
Hi, Tasha! We’ve loved you on Strictly! You’re such a trailblazer for the deaf community and have raised so much awareness. What has been the response from others in the community?
Honestly, it’s just been so lovely and positive. When I was growing up I had no deaf role models and there was no representation on TV. So for me to go on a huge show like Strictly, showing off and not hiding my cochlear implant, and showing people that it is OK, you can achieve your goals and dreams, that means the world. I’m doing it for them.
What would you like to see happen next in terms of diversity and awareness for the deaf community?
There has been progress and steps in the right direction where as a society we are recognising disabilities and are slowly becoming more inclusive, but it isn’t enough and we are still so far away from where we need to be. I’d love to live in a world where we have a reality show line-up of all disabilities or a soap where we have more than just one deaf person, because that is real life. I’d like people to see British Sign Language not as a language for deaf people, but a language full stop. Subtitles are also so important on planes, TV and social media. There is so much more that can be changed.
What would you say to others with hearing loss, who perhaps are nervous about wearing a cochlear implant?
That it isn’t a disability but your superpower. I’ve been that girl who struggled at school because teachers turned their back on me, who wanted to hide her implant, but I have realised that my deafness makes me really powerful and I now e...
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New UK (Digital) - 1 Issue, December 16, 2024