Strictly star Vick Hope says Meghan Markle is the great mixed-race role model she needed as a young girl
Vick Hope hails Meghan Markle a role model for a whole generation of young women (Hello!/PA) Strict..
Strictly Come Dancing hopeful Vick Hope says Meghan Markle is the kind of mixed race role model who would have inspired her as a girl.
The radio presenter said she admires the Duchess Of Sussex, womens right activist and former TV actress, for speaking out on important matters.
Speaking to Hello magazine, the 29-year-old Capital One Breakfast show host simultaneously revealed that her parents have just bought a TV especially to watch Vick perform on Strictly.
Vick said: If I had been younger now as a mixed-race girl, and I had seen someone who looked like me marrying into the royal family, it would have given me a level of validation, a feeling that you can be whatever you want to be.
I think she is a great role model. She uses her voice to speak about things she really cares about.
Hope, who is partnered with professional dancer Graziano Di Prima, studied languages at Cambridge and went on to work as a news and entertainment reporter for ITN before landing her job at Capital.
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She was brought up in Newcastle by a Nigerian mother and English father, and has said her parents are watching her progress on Strictly.
My mum and dad went out and bought a TV just two weeks ago so they could watch me on Strictly, she said.
When I was growing up we didnt have TV in our house which is perhaps why I work in TV because it seemed such a mythical thing.
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I am having the time of my life. I dont think theres a happier place than when youre dancing and feeling the music.
According to bookmakers Ladbrokes, Vick is entering the series in a two horse race with former Pussycat Dolls dancer Ashley Roberts.
Her Italian counterpart Graziano, who makes his debut in this series, has already emerged as a fan favourite while the pair are already heavily tipped to lift the Glitterball trophy.
The full article can be read in Hello magazine, which is out now.
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