She’s an expert at winning the dance-off – and now Molly Rainford is a dab hand at giving trolls the brush-off, too.
The 21-year-old says she has stopped looking at social media after seeing nasty comments about her performances.
The former Britain’s Got Talent singer said: “Everyone has an opinion on Strictly. Everyone is a judge, which can be hard.
“I’ve had to learn not to look at all the comments and just focus on myself and the dance. I’ve really had to try not to take everyone’s comments to heart.
“There have been so many more positive comments than negative ones but it’s easier to focus on the negative ones if you’re not careful.”
Molly praised her dance partner Carlos Gu, 28, for keeping her positive after landing in the bottom two three times. And the CBBC star says her family help her switch off from the pressure.
Molly said: “Carlos has been amazing supporting me. I’m trying to think of him as the only important judge.
“If he is happy how I’ve danced and I have enjoyed it, then I am trying to see that as a success regardless of what anyone else says.
“My family have been amazing too. They have been helping me switch off from Strictly on my day off. I just try and chill with the family and watch a film.
“We watched The Office last week as I love comedies because they really help to take my mind off it.”
Molly was 11 when she sang on BGT in 2012 – but has found Strictly much more stressful than its ITV rival.
“I didn’t really know what was going on during BGT,” she said. “I was too young to know the scale of it all.
“Whereas on Strictly I am a lot more aware of how big a show it is and what everyone is saying.”
Molly has survived the dreaded dance-off three times – against comic Jayde Adams, Paralympic gold medallist swimmer Ellie Simmonds and DJ Tyler West.
“Sunday can be really deflating and it can be hard to get your confidence back,” she said. “You just have to find a way to dust yourself off and get back up.”
But on Friday’s musical-themed quarter-final she and Carlos won their highest marks and a standing ovation from the judges after dancing the Charleston to Hot Honey Rag from Chicago.
Their score of 38 beat wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin on 36 and left former Corrie star Kym Marsh bottom on 34.
Single Molly has been romantically linked to both pro dancer Nikita Kuzmin, 24, and axed Tyler, 26.
She denies both rumours but did admit to being upset to see Tyler go home.
Molly added: “I was close to Tyler and we’ve spent a lot of time together, so I will miss him being a part of the competition. The hardest thing is that he did a great dance and still went home.
“I think that’s the thing now. No one is safe and even if you’re a good dancer you are still in danger.”
