Inside Strictly star Nicola Adams’ surprise lockdown birthday party thrown by girlfriend Ella
STRICTLY’S Nicola Adams revealed she was treated to an incredible surprise lockdown birthday party by her doting girlfriend Ella Baig.
The Olympic boxing champ, 38, has been busy rehearsing for the Saturday night show, but took time out to celebrate her big day with her woman.
Taking to Instagram today, the sporting hero shared some pictures from her birthday bash.
The cute snaps included an incredible Strictly themed birthday cake, complete with dancers and the Glitterball Trophy.
There was also an impressive balloon wall which spelt out her name in giant metallic letters.
Loved up Nicola wrote next to the pictures: “Thank you @ella.baig for throwing me a mini surprise lockdown party yesterday, it made me so happy because I wasn’t expecting it!
“It’s the best birthday I’ve had!”
She added: “Thank you to everyone at Strictly for my cake and a big thanks to @mrs_katjones not only for my T-Rex socks but for dressing up as one too!”
Nicola and Ella have been dating for around two years and regularly share loved up selfies.
Before the show started Ella rubbished suggestions the couple will fall victim to the show’s notorious curse.
The beauty blogger, 22, is firmly behind Nicola as she makes history with Strictly’s first same-sex partnership.
She told the Sun on Sunday: “I’m not worried about the curse. Nicki and me are best friends so I don’t really see anyone as competition and she doesn’t either.
“We did have a conversation about the ‘curse,’ and we agreed I would meet her dance partner so there are no hard feelings or jealousy there. Once you find someone you genuinely get on with you can walk past the most attractive person in the world and you don’t even know they are there.
“The grass is never greener on the other side and me and Nicki have a lot of history together, so I don’t think anyone is going to steal her off me. I can’t see an issue with my partner being surrounded by attractive female dancers.
“It’s the same when she goes to work on TV and is surrounded by attractive celebrities, or when I model with other girls.
“Temptation is always there but if you’re committed to someone, you’re committed to someone — there’s no such thing as temptation when you’re in love.”
“Ella’s really supportive of me doing the show. The plan was for me to practise at home with her too, but I don’t think I’ll be able to remember the moves she’s supposed to do as well as mine, so it might be a bit confusing and make it even more complicated.
“She thinks it’s great I’m taking on a new challenge. She likes to see me doing things I enjoy, especially as this is more fun than boxing.”
Meanwhile, Nicola, who came out aged 13, hopes to inspire youngsters grappling with their own sexuality.
She said: “It’s really exciting for Strictly fans to be seeing two women dancing together. It’s about time they showed some diversity. It shouldn’t be a big deal but it is.
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“I want young kids watching the show to think, ‘Oh, wow, that could be me one day’. When I was growing up there were no role models on TV so I wouldn’t have known it was even an option for me.”
Nicola and Strictly partner Katya impressed the judges last weekend with their quickstep.
This Saturday they will be taking on the Couples’ Choice dance to Shine by Years & Years.