Strict finalist Hamza Yassin has lost more than one and a half stone and five inches from his waist as a result of his dance training.
The 32-year-old wildlife videographer says he feels “happier, healthier and in better shape” after competing on the show for the past three months and vows to keep dancing, though not for up to nine hours a day.
Speaking ahead of the Strictly finale on Saturday, Hamza, who was approached by several “big production companies” after his appearance on the dance series, admits he has struggled with his confidence throughout and believed that every week would be the last.
‘My feet don’t hurt anymore’: Strict finalist Hamza Yassin has lost over a stone and a half and five inches from his waist as a result of his dance training (pictured from November)
Hamza said: ‘I have lost almost 13 kilos, more than a stone and a half.
“My feet don’t hurt anymore and I’m seeing body parts getting defined and I feel so much happier, fitter and healthier and I hope I can keep it up, it’ll be amazing if I can.”
‘I’m certainly healthier. I’ve lost 4-5 inches off my waist, it’s crazy.
‘This suit I’m wearing was made to measure at first and now I wear a belt to adjust it. It’s an incredible feeling. Dancing is an incredible exercise. There is no need to run away.
The wildlife videographer says he feels “happier, healthier and fitter” after competing on the show for the past three months and vows to keep dancing (pictured from September)
The CBeebies star, who is poised to win the series after topping the leader board week after week by impressing the judges with his natural rhythm and dancing style, confessed to not being as calm and collected as he is during the trial process.
Hamza also credits his dyslexia with helping him feel the music instead of hearing the lyrics and says his unique, visual way of thinking has led him to become a better dancer.
He said: ‘Every week it’s a new dance, and it feels like you’re back at square one and you’re learning a different form or a different feeling and for some you have to act out the dances.
‘Confidence to me… I’m certainly out of my comfort zone. If you put me in front of a lion attacking me with a camera, I’ll be cool, I’m confident, whereas here I am wearing clothes I normally would never wear and doing things I normally wouldn’t and don’t. I don’t hear the music, believe it or not. I feel the music. If there’s a rhythm, I can feel it.
“Confidence is a difficult thing, but I feel like my dyslexia helps me dance, so I have to trust that. The 3D thinking of where we need to be, that’s perfect.’
Hamza, who has been approached by several ‘big producers’ after her appearance on the dance series, admits she’s had issues with her confidence throughout (pictured from November)
Hamza admits that he would love to win the Strictly Glitter Ball on Saturday night and will dedicate the win to his professional dance partner, Jowita Przystal.
Selflessly, he says that winning the series is the only thing he could give Jowita after weeks of his dedicated teaching and encouragement.
He said: ‘For me, it would come down to sharing the stage with this absolutely incredible woman, knowing what she’s been through in her life and what I’ve done in my life.
‘It would just be a dream come true, an absolute dream come true. It would be like the icing on the cake, Christmas, Easter, all mixed together. I can’t give her anything in life that she herself can’t get.
“All I can do is do my best on that dance floor and I hope we can lift the Glitter Ball trophy together.”
Hamza admits that he would love to win the Strictly Glitter Ball on Saturday night and will dedicate the win to his professional dance partner, Jowita Przystal.
The future looks bright for Hamza, who will not only continue to dance to maintain his new slimmed-down physique, but has also been sought after by TV bosses who are eager to nab him following his success on the show.
He said: ‘There are some things lined up. I’m going to be doing some documentaries, so I’ll be in front of the camera and behind the camera.
‘I have some trips to Peru and some big companies are asking questions. I want to show the world my love for the natural world and that is my biggest goal in life and it has always been my goal in life to take care of Mother Nature.
“If this platform has given me the impetus to do it, I am very grateful to Strictly and the BBC and I hope we can keep going, but I can guarantee you that I will continue to dance, maybe not nine hours a day.”