Zara McDermott has revealed her ‘entire experience’ at school was marred by relentless bullying from her peers as teachers watched on.
The Strictly star says she was mocked throughout her entire education.
Zara, 27, told Auto Trader’s Show On The Road podcast: ‘There really wasn’t a day where I didn’t experience it. I would go in every day just thinking, what’s it going to be like today?
'I got bullied up until I was in Year 13 so it was my entire experience. There really wasn’t a day where I didn’t experience it.’
‘I remember being mocked by my entire science class, it was my form class and they were making really nasty gestures towards me all at the same time and thought it was really funny. ‘My teacher didn’t really do anything.
Zara McDermott has revealed her ‘entire experience’ at school was marred by relentless bullying from her peers as teachers watched on
'I got bullied up until I was in Year 13 so it was my entire experience. There really wasn’t a day where I didn’t experience it' (pictured as a child)
‘It was really hard because my mum worked at the school as well. So I used to go and eat my lunch with her because I didn’t really have any friends. That’s why I’m so close to her now.’
It comes after the Mail revealed last month Zara’s professional dancer partner Graziano Di Prima, 30, had left Strictly Come Dancing amid allegations of abuse towards her behind the scenes.
Zara was speaking for the first time since her Strictly Come Dancing partner Graziano Di Prima by kicked and hit her during training last year.
She had remained silent about the ordeal but shared her side of the story after she was confronted by BBC bosses during an investigation into their professional dancers’ conduct.
She released a statement to her two million Instagram followers which explained she had ‘wrestled with the fear of opening up’ because she was ‘scared about public backlash and of victim shaming’.
The documentary presenter wrote: ‘Reports have been made about my treatment on the show and there were witnesses to some events, as well as videos of particular incidents which are incredibly distressing to watch.
‘After a lot of conversations with those I love, I’ve 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.’
The TV personality is involved in a relationship with former made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson
But Auto Trader’s Road podcast, which sees the reality star take a trip around Romford Town Centre and her hometown Upminster and visit her Colborne School where she attended as a child, with the podcast host Alex Legouix, is the first interview she has conducted 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 wasn’t meant to kick her. I’d never, never do that. My foot brushed her after I kicked the floor.’
Olly Murs, Giovanna Fletcher, Lucy Edwards and Dr Alex George are all upcoming passengers on the Auto Trader’s podcast series.
