Dancing With The Stars contestant reveals ‘punishing’ reality of filming, her brutal bruises and the substances she took to get through the pain: ‘It was heartbreaking’

Dancing With The Stars contestant reveals 'punishing' reality of filming, her brutal bruises and the substances she took to get through the pain: 'It was heartbreaking'

As a seasoned actress and a contestant on Dancing With The Stars, I can tell you that it was no walk in the park for me and my partner Aric. I was used to the glamour and the spotlight, but the rigors of dancing every day and dealing with my own dramas made for a rollercoaster ride.


Nikki Osborne shared an honest look at the challenging process of filming Dancing With The Stars by displaying the injury-inducing bruises she obtained during practice sessions.

The comedian, aged 42, teams up with pro dancer Aric Yegudkin for the 2024 version of the show, aiming to make it all the way in the dance competition.

In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Australia, Nikki confessed that the filming process was harder than anticipated, with rehearsals lasting as long as 13 hours each day.

‘It’s harder than one would expect and a bit more punishing,’ she confessed.

Towards the finale, I clung to painkillers and a glass of whisky, my hands intertwined. This duo saw me through the ordeal. Pain had taken over, yet it became an unwelcome yet accepted companion.

Towards the finish, picking up my fallen toothbrush became an insurmountable task, and I simply let out a frustrated sigh, “Oh, never mind.”

Although she faced challenges, Nikki maintained that she had no regrets and cherished each moment on the show. She viewed her painful bruises and injuries as symbols of her experiences.

Dancing With The Stars contestant reveals 'punishing' reality of filming, her brutal bruises and the substances she took to get through the pain: 'It was heartbreaking'

She openly displayed her [inflammations or marks of injury], feeling accomplished and taking pride in having obtained them while continuing to dance.

Growing up, my grandpa’s resilience as a war veteran greatly influenced me. He instilled in me the importance of perseverance through challenging times. With Aric by my side, we established a secret code: whenever we felt like giving up, we would remind each other to “push harder.”

“Things were chaotically busy!” she exclaimed. “Competition really brings out the best in people. I think I’m prepared for the Olympic Games now.”

Nikki is not the only one to get injured on the 2024 show.

Julie Goodwin was forced to postpone her debut after sustaining a calf muscle tear.

The recovery time for the MasterChef Australia celebrity, estimated to be around six weeks, casts doubt on her continued participation in the show. However, Nikki emphasized that the star remains committed and intends to return to the dance floor.

Nikki, along with Julie, concealed the full severity of their injuries from the producers and continued to dance despite experiencing pain.

“She mentioned that Julie, like herself, may have hidden the full severity of her injuries after breaking down in tears backstage on the initial night and being unable to take the stage.”

Dancing With The Stars contestant reveals 'punishing' reality of filming, her brutal bruises and the substances she took to get through the pain: 'It was heartbreaking'

We were all deeply saddened by the turn of events. We’re aware that a small mistake could put any one of us in the same predicament. In my opinion, she will perform a dance.

During filming, the dancers and celebrities, as reported by Nikki, formed a supportive circle for one another. Medical professionals were available to help attend to any physical injuries they incurred.

She continued by describing Aric’s unyielding training methods and admitted that they had clashed at times. However, she expressed her gratitude for his dedication in the end.

She expressed her appreciation for his unyielding persistence, adding, “It’s not easy, but I’m grateful. You don’t want a lenient mentor because growth only comes from challenges.”

If only Aric had paid attention to my suggestions and acted upon them, we could have finished work earlier and enjoyed more free time. However, he seemed unwilling to comply with my requests.

“I appreciate that, but if we encountered each other, I would urge him to move aside so I could leave, to which he would respond by encouraging me to try harder, telling me not to cry, and urging me to stand up and straighten out.”

In my experience as a devoted admirer, I’m baffled by the resilience of professional dancers. Amidst our persistent complaints, tears, and “I’m hungries,” they continue to thrive. It’s a challenge I simply cannot match.

During rehearsals, the actress joked about her tendency to overact and affectionately labeled herself as “quite the drama queen.” She appreciated Aric’s patience in managing her emotional outbursts.

Dancing With The Stars contestant reveals 'punishing' reality of filming, her brutal bruises and the substances she took to get through the pain: 'It was heartbreaking'

Additionally, she acknowledged that they had violated the rules of the show and arranged for late-night practice sessions, determined as they were to secure the victory.

Aric has a strong competitive spirit, always keeping an eye on other couples during their workouts to push himself harder, stating, “We need to outdo them.”

“Late-night practices were part of our routine as well, even though it was against the rules. We did this in an attempt to gain a competitive edge over others.”

She expressed her competitive side by saying, “I truly aim to come out on top, but deep down, I have this feeling that winning isn’t in the cards for me as I’m not considered the favorite.”

Despite being seen as the underdog, I face challenges in making it far in the competition. Yet, my determination remains undeterred as I aim to reach the finish line and experience each dress and dance along the way.

Nikki expressed joy in each moment of the show, yet finding it tough to watch the finale edits since her promotional stint was manipulated and she didn’t perform well.

‘You don’t know what the edit is going to do as well so that is hard I would say,’ she explained.

Based on my own experiences and the unpredictability of life, I can relate to the feeling of uncertainty that comes with not knowing how one will be promoted or featured next in various aspects of life. Last week, I was prepared to face a disappointing outcome, only to be surprised by unexpected success. The same could happen again next week. All I can do is stay alert and keep moving forward, eagerly anticipating what life has in store for me while remaining adaptable to its twists and turns.

Dancing With The Stars contestant reveals 'punishing' reality of filming, her brutal bruises and the substances she took to get through the pain: 'It was heartbreaking'

In spite of the challenges, Nikki expressed that her best part was performing the dances during the show’s finale, sharing how she formed strong connections with her fellow cast members.

I formed strong connections with Shane Crawford and Ant Middleton; our interactions were wonderful. Initially, when they suggested I join the SAS, my response was something along the lines of “I don’t think so!” or “No way!” instead of using stronger language.

Samantha Jade and I have been exchanging many texts. I didn’t anticipate getting along so well with her and the others.

I too would share that Nova Peris and I secretly brought alcohol with us during show nights, going against the established regulations.

“During every performance, Nova and I secretly added bubbles instead of allowing the rule against alcohol to dampen our spirits,” she explained.

‘Bugger rules, nobody gets ahead obeying the rules do they?’

Additionally, she developed close friendships with the contentious AFL player Ben Cousins, disregarding the cautions of her circle of friends who advised her to keep her distance due to his questionable history.

Some viewers were taken aback by Ben’s participation in the Channel Seven program due to his prior 2020 stalking conviction against the mother of his kids.

Dancing With The Stars contestant reveals 'punishing' reality of filming, her brutal bruises and the substances she took to get through the pain: 'It was heartbreaking'

In reference to the ongoing debate, Nikki shared with Daily Mail Australia her amusing experience: “I hadn’t met Ben prior to our involvement, and some of my female friends warned me against him. I thought, ‘Oh dear, I guess I should be cautious.'”

I’ve come to appreciate Nikki’s perspective, as she repeatedly emphasizes that Ben is a “sweetheart” and we’ve formed a strong connection while being on the show together.

The first time I encountered him, I thought, “Wow, what a kind and endearing person!” He has a charming and amiable disposition, and our connection was instantaneous. (She added)

“Ben Cousins surprised me by attending my performance in Perth and encouraging me there. Therefore, despite what others may believe about him, he has transformed into someone new for me.”

Among the off-camera relationships, Nikki brought up rumors that Chris Brown, the show’s host, and Lisa McCune, a contestant, have developed a close bond and have been flirting with each other during filming.

In response to the gossip, Nikki quipped playfully, “That really upsets me as I believed he had a crush on me, I’m livid!”

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2024-07-20 06:34

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