Zara McDermott has revealed her “whole experience” at school was marred by relentless bullying from her peers as teachers looked on.
The Strictly star says she was teased throughout her upbringing.
Zara, 27, said Automobile dealers exhibition on the road Podcast: “There wasn’t a single day that I didn’t experience it. Every day I asked myself: what will today be like?”
“I was bullied until I was in 13th grade, so that was my whole experience. There wasn’t a day where I wasn’t bullied.”
‘I remember my whole science class making fun of me, it was my grade class and everyone was making really nasty gestures towards me at the same time and thinking it was really funny. ‘My teacher didn’t really do anything.
Zara McDermott has revealed her “whole experience” at school was marred by relentless bullying from her peers as teachers looked on.
“I was bullied until I was in 13th grade, so that was my whole experience. There wasn’t a day that I wasn’t bullied” (pictured as a child)
“It was really hard because my mom also worked at the school. So I used to go out to eat with her because I didn’t have many friends. That’s why I’m so close to her now.”
This comes after the Mail revealed last month that Zara’s professional dancing partner Graziano Di Prima, 30, had quit Strictly Come Dancing amid allegations of abuse towards her behind the scenes.
Zara has spoken out for the first time since being kicked and punched by her Strictly Come Dancing partner Graziano Di Prima during training last year.
She had remained silent about the ordeal but shared her side of the story after being confronted by BBC bosses during an investigation into the conduct of its professional dancers.
She posted a statement to her two million Instagram followers explaining that she had “struggled with the fear of opening up” because she was “afraid of public backlash and victim shaming.”
The documentary host wrote: ‘There have been reports made about my treatment on the show and there have been witnesses to some events as well as videos of particular incidents which are incredibly distressing to watch.
‘After many conversations with those I love, I have gained the strength to face these fears.
“And when I was asked to speak to the BBC, I spoke candidly about my time on the show.”
Zara has spoken out for the first time since being kicked and punched by her Strictly Come Dancing partner Graziano Di Prima during training last year.
The TV personality is involved in a relationship with former Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson.
But the Auto Trader’s Road podcast, which sees the reality star take a trip around Romford city centre and her home town Upminster and visit the Colborne School she attended as a child with podcast host Alex Legouix, is the first interview she has done since the allegations emerged.
Meanwhile, the Italian dancer told the Mail earlier this month that he was “not a monster” and “not an abusive man” adding: “I didn’t mean to kick her. I would never, ever do that. My foot grazed her after I kicked the ground.”
Olly Murs, Giovanna Fletcher, Lucy Edwards and Dr Alex George are the next guests in the Auto Trader podcast series.
