Criticism Dolls led attacks
Melody Thornton is wowing the judges in Dancing On Ice but her stint with the iconic girl group was plagued by insecurities and feelings of worthlessness as Nicole Scherzinger took centre stage
that didn’t appear to fit the agenda. Robin was in a really tough position because she owned the name and had been trying to get this act up and running for 15 years. So, she’s not going to jeopardise her opportunities for some little girl.
“Now all the Dolls are doing their own things and doing really well, and that’s great. But it took me a long time to pick myself up. It’s been really hard to get back on my feet and have the confidence to move forwards in my career.”
Joining the Dancing On Ice cast is one of Melody’s steps to rebuilding her self-worth and carving out a new career on her terms. She has been getting high scores from the judging panel – even impressing notoriously scathing Jason Gardiner.
No one can fault her work ethic – this week Melody has had the flu bug on top of horrendous injuries from a bad fall last week and has resisted the comfort of bed for the ice rink where her feet feel frozen and she’s spun by partner Alexander Demetrio at great speed.
“My arms are so weak I can hardly lift them, my shoulders are killing me, my elbows ache and after my head bounced off the ice my face is still really painful to the touch. And I have flu. But at least I didn’t break my jaw. And I have to just keep going.”
Working so hard leaves Melody, who has temporarily relocated here from Los Angeles, little time for socialising or to find a British man to date.
“I’m single and hoping to mingle,” she says. “But I am so knackered when I get home after training I have no idea where I’m going to meet anybody. But I hope I will – maybe he’ll read this interview?
“I feel like British men are very chivalrous – the door’s always being held for me, which is lovely. I don’t know what else to say about British men but hopefully I can find out.
“I have to know a person and really fall for the way he treats people and respects himself. But there’s a model who has really nice style – I think he’s called David Gandy. No disrespect if he’s off the market, but he’s beautiful.” David’s partner has nothing to fear as Melody says: “I’d never fight a woman for a man”.
That’s exactly why she’s annoyed by rumours she is secretly feuding with Kim Kardashian over her past relationship with Kanye West.
Melody says: “I definitely knew Kanye before I even met Kim. But they’re happy and together and I’m very happy for them.
“Kim and I just stopped speaking. Honestly, that’s all. Our lives just went in different directions.
“She’s a mother and she’s married, and I started spending a lot of time in Europe and we just kinda lost touch. It is what it is.
“It’s like friends you had in high school that you would never have thought you could spend a day without them, but it happens. But I love her and wish her the best, and really respect her.
“Why don’t I text her? She probably doesn’t have the same number. And I just believe in letting life roll. Life brings people back together if they’re meant to be together. I’m sure she’s fine without me and I’m OK without her.”
● Dancing on Ice is on ITV tomorrow at 6pm.