Strictly Come Dancing's Karen Carney shares disability struggle after harsh BBC backlash

Karen Carney, a former professional footballer, is participating in Strictly Come Dancing while managing Scheuermann's disease, a spinal condition causing curvature and stiffness. This condition presents significant challenges for her dance movements, requiring her to adapt and find solutions alongside her professional partner, Carlos Gu. Despite these difficulties, Carney is committed to enjoying the experience and demonstrating her best effort, emphasizing that dancing is about joy and connecting with the audience. Carney's participation on the show comes after facing backlash and criticism in her transition to football punditry, where she encountered resistance to women providing commentary on the sport. This has impacted her confidence, and she views Strictly as an opportunity to challenge herself and rediscover her sense of self. While she acknowledges her nerves on live television, she is focused on performing with passion and not taking herself too seriously. The former Lioness, who had a distinguished football career, has also spoken about her personal journey of self-discovery on the show. She reveals a more sensitive side beneath her strong public persona, admitting to a lack of confidence that has been exacerbated by negative experiences in her post-football career. Carney is embracing the challenge of expressing sensuality on the dance floor, a stark contrast to her tomboyish upbringing and football background. This week, she will perform an Argentine Tango inspired by the show Peaky Blinders, a significant departure from her ... download the app to read more