Maisie Smith has revealed she has put on weight during her time on Strictly Come Dancing despite spending hours in intense rehearsals.
The EastEnders actress, 19, reckons she is the only celebrity contestant to put on weight while taking part in the show.
Speaking to Heat magazine, she said: ‘It’s weird. Everyone always says, “Going on this show, you’re just going to shed the weight.”‘
However, Maisie explained she is eating more food than ever before to make up for the energy she burns while dancing.
She said: ‘But I haven’t noticed that about myself because I eat triple the amount of food I was eating before. I think I’m the only celeb to actually put on weight.’
Maisie, who is partnered with Gorka Marquez on the show, specifically blamed her weight gain on doughnuts and fajitas.
She said: ‘Gorka and I have a bag of doughnuts every single day, so that’s probably not going to help. Fajitas and doughnuts, that’s my diet right now. That’s something of a balance, isn’t it?’
It comes after Maisie recently shared a very candid post discussing her body confidence struggles and revealing how she used to ‘hate’ her legs.
The TV star found support from an unlikely place after Khloe Kardashian commented on her Instagram post, praising her ‘envy worthy’ physique.
The surprised Strictly contestant took to social media on Sunday to share the sweet message she had been left by the reality star, 36.
Sharing a screenshot of her post and comments, Maisie wrote ‘LOL why am I so gassed’ as she showcased the compliment.
Khloe had penned: ‘You have the most beautiful legs!!!!! Envy worthy!!! I can not build my legs for the life of me! So I’m drooling over yours… you are gorgeous!!!!!! ❤️ ‘
The reality star left her supportive comment an entire seven days after the EastEnders actress shared the collection of images showing her leaving the gym.
However Maisie was quick to respond to the unexpected reply, simply writing back to Khloe: ‘Thanks chicken x’
Maisie’s fans were equally taken aback with the lovely yet unexpected support from a reality TV icon, with one person writing: ‘Not the cross over I expected today’.
And another shared their amusement at Maisie’s reply, saying: ‘Dying, you’ve just called Khloe Kardashian chicken. So good.’
Last month Maisie, revealed that her time on the dance floor has taught her to learn to ‘love’ her ‘flaws’.
Taking to Instagram, the soap actress shared five photos taken from different angles of her leaving the gym in October and explained that she always worried about ‘cellulite’ on her legs.
Writing in the caption, Maisie began: ‘Here lies a collection of photos taken at the exact same time, however, from different angles, under different lighting.
‘The past few years I’ve been VERY insecure about my legs. I covered them up as much possible. No matter how many people told me ‘cellulite is natural.. everyone has it..’ I still hated them.’
Despite having initially negative feelings toward her body, Maisie said she’s learned to ‘accept’ what she first deemed as ‘flaws’ and now sees them as ‘qualities’.
And while Maisie admitted she doesn’t completely ‘love’ her body, the TV star insisted she’s on the journey to and wanted to share her story so her social media followers could feel confident about themselves too.
‘It’s taken me a while but I’m starting to accept these aspects of myself that I’ve always seen as ‘flaws’,’ she continued.
‘I wore gym shorts (out of the house) for the FIRST time a couple of months ago n I was so so proud of myself. I wish I could I say that I LOVE my body but I’m still working on that.
The star added: ‘The reason I posted this was because I understand that it’s SO hard to love yourself and see your ‘flaws’ as ‘qualities’. We ALL have things we want to change about ourselves.
‘But I hope this can help other people feel more confident about their own insecurities. BECAUSE YOU ARE FRIGGING BEAUTIFUL. And because self love is the best love.’
Maisie and Gorka again showed off their talents on the Strictly stage on Saturday with an energetic jive to Little Shop Of Horrors, getting a 28 overall.
Craig Revel Horwood was impressed with their technique, giving them 9 points, and saying: ‘The energy was insane, there were lots of complex changes of rhythm which you nailed!’
Shirley Ballas also agreed, giving them a 10, adding: ‘Your feet are starting to go in beautiful ladylike position!’ which got a loud cheer out of Gorka.
Mosti Mabuse, who also awarded them a 9, was overjoyed with the routine saying: ‘It’s a full house, no way I cannot live for that! You put such a great importance on the music.’
However some Strictly viewers were left unimpressed at the outcome, saying Maisie was ‘robbed’ after giving such an impressive performance and not bagging all 10s.