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RuPaul's Drag Race star Tayce Szura-Radix has revealed she's received online abuse following her 'controversial' appearance in the line-up of Strictly's upcoming Christmas special.
The Welsh performer, 30, has made history as the BBC show's first ever drag queen contestant and will strut her stuff alongside pro partner Kai Widdrington, 29.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline a defiant Tayce said the backlash had only spurred her on and quipped many haters were simply jealous of her being 'too hot'.
‘I've seen hate, I've seen it's controversial, it's provocative but that's all the things that I am I wouldn't change that for the world,'
'I think there was a lot of backlash from people being like "oh, it's the man or they're taking up a woman's space" and things like that. I think some people honestly just have a bit of a complex because I look hot and they can't take it. It’s true.’
She went on: 'If you're a bit angry and offended, I'm probably doing something right. At the end of the day, I was raised with good loving parents. And they always said, as long as you're not hurting anybody and doing what you love there’s nothing more I can ask for'.
'I’m a good person. I'm respectful. I might look a certain way. If you can't handle that, that's your problem. And any hate that I get online. There's going to hate and more. So bring it on. It’s going to make me dance harder'.
RuPaul's Drag Race star Tayce has revealed she's received online abuse following her 'controversial' appearance in the line-up of Strictly's upcoming Christmas special
The Welsh performer, 30, has made history as the BBC show's first ever drag queen contestent and will strut her stuff alongside pro partner Kai Widdrington, 29
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline a defiant Tayce said the backlash had only spurred her on and quipped many haters were simply jealous of her being 'too hot'
Asked how she felt to be Strictly's first drag contestant Tayce said: 'It feels correct, pushing boundaries, pushing the envelope baby'.
'I'm here to make it clear. I think there's gonna be a lot of pressure on me with that as well. But I like pressure, it makes you work harder'.
Meanwhile partner Kai added: ‘Dancing is about dancing. It's not male female or whatever they choose to be. It doesn't bother me. Tayce will tell you that we get on like a house on fire.
Before adding: 'I think it's fantastic that Tayce is the flag bearer for the drag community.’
The couple will be performing a Cha Cha Cha to the Kylie and Danni Minogue hit 100 Dregrees, going head to head with comedian Josh Widdicombe, actress Tamzin Outhwaite, Irish presenter Vogue Williams, Gladiator Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, and F1 driver Billy Monger.
Funnyman Josh, 41 is dressing as a penguin to dance a Charleston to Let It Snow with professional Karen Hauer, 42.
He told The Mail on Sunday: 'There's a lot of joy. We're penguins, there's a skateboard and a slide, there's a fish in my mouth. It's quite a thoughtful piece and if you look deep it's about the state of the world in 2024.'
Speaking ahead of the prerecord, the television personality fears that there could be some mishaps during his comical routine.
He said: 'It's not going to be easy because you think of the worst thing that could happen, like hitting Karen while flying through the air on national television on Christmas Day.
She said: 'I think there was a lot of backlash from people being like "oh, it's the man or they're taking up a woman's space" and things like that. I think some people honestly just have a bit of a complex'
Asked how she felt to be Strictly's first drag contestant Tayce said: 'It feels correct, pushing boundaries, pushing the envelope baby
Meanwhile partner Kai added: ‘Dancing is about dancing. It's not male female or whatever they choose to be. It doesn't bother me. Tayce will tell you that we get on like a house on fire
'Or falling on your a***. Then you've got to overcome those fears. It wasn't easy. Anyone who says it's easy isn't really considering everything that could go wrong physically.'
The Last Leg presenter said that he was taking part in the dance competition because his seven-year-old daughter Pearl is a big fan and they will watch it as a family.
He also said he introduced her to Karen, he said: 'She was so thrilled. She wouldn't stop talking about her. She's written her a Christmas card with four dogs on it because Karen's got 4 dogs.'
Jish also paid tribute to comedian Chris McCausland who won the series earlier this month.
He said: 'What a guy, what an incredible human. Let's not patronise him by saying he's heroic, he's a really good dancer and that shouldn't be lost underneath the fact he's doing something amazing because he's blind.
'He's genuinely got great dancing skills. That shouldn't be lost.'
He revealed that Chis was not convinced he would do well on the BBC flagship dance show.
The comic said: 'I haven't seen Chris in the flesh since he came on Last Leg in Paris back in August.
'He'd only just started the pre-training, he was like, ''oh God, I'm going to go out in week one, I'm going to be s***''. I thought yep, but he looks like a different shape now.
Josh Widdicombe has revealed he's transforming into a penguin to compete in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, with the comic set to take to the floor with pro Karen Hauer
The Last Leg presenter said that he was taking part in the dance competition because his seven-year-old daughter Pearl is a big fan and they will watch it as a family
He also paid tribute to comedian Chris McCausland, who won the series earlier this month (pictured with his professional partner Dianne Buswell)
'The amount of exercise this is, it's insane so we've not been training every day, we've been training once or twice a week for a month, but this is the fittest I've ever been and I'm heartbroken that it's going to be followed by Christmas because all the hard work is going to be undone instantly.'
Asked whether he would like to return to compete on the main show, he ruled himself out as he will be on his nationwide stand-up tour.
He added: 'If the tour sells well enough then I won't be able to do the year after as well but if it doesn't then I'll go on Strictly to try and sell another tour.'
The special, hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, airs on Christmas Day at 3:55pm.
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