My curves make me who I am
PRESENTER and Dancing with the Stars contestant Katja Mia has said she loves her curves and has vowed not to be put off by ‘the hate’ on social media after trolls posted cruel comments about her size.
Speaking ahead of the tonight’s episode, Katja revealed she has had to endure some derogatory commentary from people saying ‘she can’t dance’ and ‘she can’t be lifted in the air with the size she is’.
The Virgin Media presenter, model and influencer told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘The hate on social media was very much centred around me being one of the few curvier women that have been featured on Dancing with the Stars.
‘I think there’s a perception that if you’re in your twenties, you have no excuse to be over an average size.
‘A lot of the negativity was coming from that perspective. But I just think it’s down to people not being exposed to curvier women on mainstream television.’
Katja, who was raised in Blanchardstown, Dublin by Burundian parents, embraces her natural curves.
‘My genes are Burundian; everyone in my family has big hips, big bums… that’s just kind of what our body shapes are,’ she said.
‘But when you’re over in a country like Burundi, [in east-central Africa] you know, that sort of curvature is celebrated.’
She said attitudes in western Europe are different.
‘I think people are still working in their heads that you have to look a certain way, you have to be really skinny,’ she said.
‘That was probably where people’s hate was coming from, and then I was getting messages on Instagram, about what I looked like and I shouldn’t be able to be lifted and dance or whatever.’
While Katja – who has previously documented her struggles with body image – generally tries to ignore the nasty comments, she said she did tackle one particularly nasty comment head on.
‘One day I got a long message about that [her curves], so I decided I’m going to expose this person, because it’s not okay to literally make the fake account and then send like an essay to someone.
The Six O’Clock Show co-presenter said she is very proud of her Burundian heritage. ‘I’ve been back, I think, three times. I love going to Burundi and I definitely want to visit some more African countries.
‘It’s very similar to Ireland in the sense that it’s so green. Where my dad’s from has green hills and reminds me of Ireland.
‘My family are tuning in from there and asking if they can vote. I have a lot of people in the UK, Canada and France so it’s great to have Burundian support.’
She said her devoted boyfriend Daragh Curran – better known as The Guinness Guru for his online reviews on pints of the black stuff – has also been a massive support. The couple live together and have been dating for five years.
‘Daragh, my boyfriend, loves it [Dancing with the Stars] but he’s a regular lad from Ashbourne. He comes to every show with my mam.’