TEACHER-turned-TikTok sensation Kayleigh Trappe has revealed how her boyfriend has been supporting her through Dancing With The Stars and is in the audience at every show.
The lip-synching comic met Tom, a fellow school teacher, on a night out last year.
And she told how the new fella never misses a live edition of DWTS, sitting with her family each Sunday night.
Kayleigh told The Irish Sun: “My boyfriend comes every week. His name is Tom and it’s fairly fresh but he is an absolutely amazing supporter.
“It’s funny, when you take somebody to Dancing With The Stars, you think they might not come again but they are up to coming every week so it’s great to have that support.
“I don’t shy away from that when I walk around the dancefloor. It’s lovely to see them there. The minute I see them, I am raring to go.”
She revealed how her parents love Roscommon man Tom, an “all-round good guy who works hard and is motivated”.
Kayleigh added: “He is so supportive.”
The 29-year-old, who gave up her job teaching kids as a primary school teacher after her TikTok videos went viral, said she still can’t believe she is dancing for the nation on the show.
Kayleigh said: “I was happy in my job and adored working with kids. But when things started opening up for me, and it was so accidental on TikTok, I thought I would be a fool not to take the bull by the horns.
“But I still think about the kids a lot, and what would they think of ‘Miss Trappe’ doing Dancing With The Stars?”
Kayleigh’s former pupils will also have seen their former teacher popping up on another massive RTE show – Fair City, playing Daisy, villain James Rafferty’s latest love interest.
Although the outing in the Christmas special was only a cameo, the Monaghan woman said she would up for a full-time role in Carrigstown.
Kayleigh said: “Well they haven’t killed me off yet so I’d like to think there’s an opportunity there.
“I had an absolute ball (doing Fair City). It’s a staple in my household and I would definitely keep the door ajar or open if I can.
SHOW HOPES
“I’d love to go back, being on set with the crew in a scene, a camera, a script. . . throw it all at me, I definitely wouldn’t say no and who knows what the future holds.”
In the meantime, the social media star will be trying not to remain on Dancing With The Stars where she resides in the middle of the scoreboard.
And she received some catty remarks from the judges over her quickstep to the title track from Disney classic The Aristocats, which landed her 21 points.
But she revealed she won’t be deterred.
GLITTERBALL STARS – ALL THE DWTS WINNERS
SERIES ONE – 2017: Former Kerry footballer Aidan O’Mahony beat the odds to be crowned Ireland’s first-ever Dancing With The Stars champion alongside pro partner Valeria Milova, beating out former Fair City star Aoibhin Garrihy and Red Rock actress Denise McCormack.
SERIES TWO – 2018: Singer Jake Carter – the younger brother of country crooner Nathan – was just 19 when he nabbed the Glitterball in 2018 with pro dancer Karen Byrne. And the dance partnership later blossomed into love for the popular pair, who confirmed they were dating months after their big win.
SERIES THREE – 2019: Popular presenter Mairead Ronan became the first female winner, landing the Glitterball with Kilkenny dancer John Nolan in 2019. The mum-of-three said her victory was proof “you can do anything you put your mind to”.
SERIES FOUR – 2020: The 2020 series finale was brought forward due to the outbreak of Covid-19, with 2FM star Lottie Ryan left in tears at clinching the trophy with pro partner Pasquale La Rocca.
SERIES FIVE – 2022: Returning to screens in 2022 after a year off in 2021 due to the continuing coronavirus crisis, ex-jockey Nina Carberry became the third woman on the trot to win the Glitterball, marking a second title for pro Pasquale.
SERIES SIX – 2023: RTE 2FM star Carl Mullan was left stunned back in 2023 when he lifted the Glitterball with pro Emily Barker. The underdog came out on top against fellow finalists Brooke Scullion, Suzanne Jackson and Damien McGinty.
SERIES SEVEN – 2024: Paralympian Jason Smyth came out on top as the 2024 series winner, with pro Karen Byrne becoming the second dancer to win the DWTS title twice. The legally blind athlete moved viewers to tears with an emotional showdance to secure the title.
Kayleigh said: “I loved our routine. Although the scores weren’t as high as I thought they’d have been, I was happy with it and that’s the most important thing.
“Growing up I loved sport but I was never any good at it. I always fell short at every hurdle.
“This (DWTS) is the show I finally want to do myself proud on. With my demons from the past, I have a point to prove to myself rather than to the public, I’d love to go as far as I can go.”
There is no elimination on Dancing With the Stars this Sunday as each couple chooses a special moment for their Dedicated Dance.
