‘I think it will change a lot of lives’

A fewyears ago, comedian Eli Matthewson, right, would not have imagined wearing nail polish and makeup on television. But his lastminute inclusion on DancingWith the Stars this year came when hewas ‘‘probably the most comfortablewith myself’’. ‘‘I’ve been on a personal journey my whole life, unpacking all sorts of internalised homophobia,’’ he told Stuff the day after his elimination on week two of the show. Matthewson originally hoped for a gay dance partner, but competing with Jonny Williams actually made the experience ‘‘so much richer’’, he said through tears. ‘‘I think that will change a lot of lives.’’ Matthewson, who is co-host of the Edge breakfast show, andWilliams, were New Zealand’s first same-sex DancingWith the Stars couple.