Dianne Buswell stunned fans by winning the 2024 Glitterball Trophy with comedian Chris McCausland, after the pair initially joked about an early exit from Strictly Come Dancing. The Australian professional dancer's victory has brought renewed attention to her remarkable journey - including a hidden career that many fans never knew about.
The vibrant red-haired performer has been a Strictly favourite since joining the BBC One show in 2017. She's known for her striking choreography, infectious personality and unwavering determination that has seen her reach two previous finals.
Hidden hairdressing career
Before finding fame on the dancefloor, Dianne worked as a professional hairdresser in her native Australia, even owning her own salon. She revealed: "I had two dreams, dancing and becoming a hairdresser - I'm thrilled to have achieved both."
During her appearance on Michael McIntyre's The Wheel in 2022, she chose hair as her specialist topic. When questioned about her choice, she explained: "I was a hairdresser. I had my own salon and then I went to dancing."
Born on May 6, 1989, in Bunbury, Western Australia, Dianne started dancing at age five after watching her siblings perform. She went on to represent Western Australia in national and international ballroom and Latin competitions, becoming a four-time finalist in the Amateur Australian Open.
Strictly Come Dancing journey
Dianne's Strictly path has been marked by both heartbreak and triumph. Her first celebrity partner, Reverend Richard Coles, left in week three in 2017, while she reached the final with YouTuber Joe Sugg in 2018.
Subsequent series brought mixed fortunes - early exits with Dev Griffin and Max George, Robert Webb's withdrawal due to health concerns, and Tyler West's departure in Blackpool. She reached another final with EastEnders star Bobby Brazier in 2023, though they missed out on the trophy.
After that near-miss, Dianne reflected on Instagram: "I used to be so obsessed with winning a sparkly trophy constantly thinking about that moment and what it would feel like. But what I have realised [is] dancing with this wonderful human is that the win and the sparkle is everywhere if you want it to be."
Personal struggles and triumphs
Dianne has openly discussed her battle with an eating disorder that left her "terrified" to dance. She described the mental toll: "You wake up in the morning, and the first thing you think of is, what am I going to eat? How many calories are going to be in that? How much do I need to exercise to burn off those calories?"
She traced the issues to her youth in the dance world, explaining the pressure to "look a certain way" and the terror of weekly weigh-ins. Having overcome these struggles, she contributed to the book "Eating Disorders Don't Discriminate" to help others facing similar challenges.
Life with Joe Sugg
Romance blossomed during Dianne's 2018 partnership with YouTuber Joe Sugg, when they reached the final together. She told the Express: "I feel like all the stars aligned with Joe because we're just literally such similar people in so many ways."
The couple moved in together in 2019 after Joe presented her with a playful invitation card asking if she wanted to live in his "humble abode". They now share a countryside property in Sussex, far from Dianne's Australian roots.
Family support and signature style
Distance from family became particularly challenging when Dianne's father Mark underwent six-month chemotherapy treatment for an undisclosed cancer diagnosis. She called him her "hero" and documented his journey on Instagram, capturing the moment he rang the bell to celebrate completing treatment.
Her trademark red hair has become her "security blanket" and professional calling card. She explained: "I always liked an undertone of red but when I went bright red for a dance show, something clicked. I felt different - more fiery, more passionate. It changed the way I danced."
The colour transformation happened gradually during her hairdressing days, when she experimented with "every single colour you could imagine" before settling on the red shade that has defined her Strictly identity for the past decade.
Sources used: "Manchester Evening News", "Wales Online", "Leicester Mercury", "Liverpool Echo" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
