Dancing With The Stars’ Paulini Curuenavuli reveals her new romance with her ‘bodyguard’

Dancing With The Stars’ Paulini Curuenavuli reveals her new romance with her ‘bodyguard’: ‘He’s the big handsome man who cheers me on in the audience’

Former Australian Idol star Paulini Curuenavuli has revealed that she is enjoying a new romance with a mystery man and she couldn’t be happier.

The 40-year-old, who can currently be seen on Dancing With The Stars, said that while she was open to appearing on other reality shows, her new relationship rules out dating shows.

‘He’s the big handsome man who cheers me on in the audience, my bodyguard basically. I am very happy,” she said women’s Day magazine.

She also admitted that she is tired of talking about judge Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson fat-shaming her over a gold dress she wore on Australian Idol in 2003.

The reality star said she was surprised when she got a similar dress on Dancing With The Stars – but decided to be a good sport and just get on with it.

Former Australian Idol star Paulini Curuenavuli has revealed that she is enjoying a new romance with a mystery man and she couldn’t be happier. Pictured: Paulini with her DWTS partner Igor Ifliand

She also admitted that she is tired of talking about judge Ian 'Dicko' Dickson fat-shaming her over the famous gold dress she wore on Australian Idol in 2003.

She also admitted that she is tired of talking about judge Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson fat-shaming her over the famous gold dress she wore on Australian Idol in 2003.

“I’m so tired of talking about the gold dress. I’m tired of it, if it were up to me I would never wear a gold dress again,” she said.

The Fijian-born star added another important man to her life at this time, her DWTS partner Igor Ifliand.

“Being on the show was a huge shock to the system. If it wasn’t for him, I don’t think I would have gotten as far as I did,” she said.

Paulini rose to fame as a contestant on the first season of Australian Idol and was stunned after Judge Dicko humiliated her on national TV.

She was only 21 at the time and had chosen to perform her song in a breathtaking gold dress.

In the shocking episode, Dicko told Paulini to “choose more appropriate clothes and shed some pounds,” sparking outrage.

The Fijian-born star added another important man to her life at this time, her DWTS partner Igor

The Fijian-born star added another important man to her life at this time, her DWTS partner Igor

When Dicko made that comment, it was kind of a wake-up call. What he said to me was hurtful, it made me think: the music industry is about every aspect of your life,” she recently told Daily Mail Australia.

“You have to take care of yourself physically and you have to make sure you look good,” she continued.

Though twenty years have passed since that fateful night, the singer admits that her self-confidence took a long-lasting blow that took a long time to recover from.

However, Paulini went on to explain that after reaching her milestone 40th birthday in October, she is now more confident than ever.

Paulini rose to fame as a contestant on the first season of Australian Idol and was stunned after judge Ian 'Dicko' Dickson humiliated her on national TV.

Paulini rose to fame as a contestant on the first season of Australian Idol, and was stunned after judge Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson humiliated her on national TV.