STRICTLY Come Dancing’s Maisie Smith broke down in tears as she’s transformed from a “shy, nervous teen” into a “confident woman” by the show.
The EastEnders star, 19, was showered in praise for her incredible Showdance to We Need a Little Christmas by Idina Menzel.
While she scored three tens for the dance, it was the messages from her mum and on-screen sister Shona McGarty that left her in floods of tears.
Claudia Winkleman told her: “You know what I love, your mum on It Takes Two, so beautiful, she said when you first started this competition you were a nervous teenager and she’s seen you transform into a confident woman.
“Watching you do that, it’s a different Maisie.”
Maisie replied: “My mum knows me inside out and she knows that I can be very shy, and very nervous, and this experience has been short but I’ve learnt a lot about myself.
“Feel like I’ve grown. And it just means the world that she’s noticed.”
She also received a very sweet message from her on-screen sister, Shona McGarty, who plays Whitney Dean on EastEnders.
Shona said: “Maisie moo, it’s Shona here, your big on-screen sister. I’m so incredibly proud of you Maise.
“There are just no words. I have watched you, not only on Strictly through your whole journey, but I have watched you blossom into this beautiful, talented young lady you are today.
“I’m so incredibly proud of you Maisie. I’m wishing you so much luck and sending you so much love.”
Maisie has stunned at the top of the leaderboard with her professional partner Gorka Marquez.
She is competing against HRVY and Janette Manrara, Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse, and Jamie Laing and Karen Hauer.
