Alexandra Burke says she almost quit Strictly Come Dancing last year.
The former X Factor finalist has spoken up after appearing on last year’s BBC One series.
Although she regularly topped the scoreboard, Alexandra found herself in the dance off and facing criticism on Twitter.
Alexandra was often accused of being ‘arrogant’ and ‘too cocky’ by some viewers.
She admitted today: “It was hard on Strictly. There was a point where I wanted to quit the show a few weeks from final because of the accusations.”
Alexandra told ITV’s Lorraine: “I sat with my brother at kitchen table and said, ‘is this worth my happiness?’ He said, ‘look how much you’ve overcome. Let’s keep going!'”
The singer previously suggested the UK has a ‘problem’ with confident women.
Accused by some of being “cocky”, Alexandra hit back: “I find it bizarre, because women shouldn’t feel that if they come across as too confident it can be mistaken for arrogance.
“That’s a massive problem we have over here.”
She told the BBC News website: “I got lost in a little bubble on Strictly. That minute-and-a-half where I had no cares in the world. I love to dance so it was a joy and something that I would look forward to if I made it through to the next week.
“It was just a special moment for me to not do anything but dance and be carefree.
“And that, yes, has been mistaken for confidence, and there has to be an ounce of confidence for you to go on the stage and do something out of your comfort zone. But I was trying to prove something to myself.”
Alexandra made the remarks in an interview about her upcoming album – her first since 2012.
She said: “It’s been a long time, and a lot has changed in my life. Some songs that I wrote in 2013 actually didn’t make the cut, because it’s not how I’m feeling right now in 2018.”
And Alexandra, who is also going on a solo tour from September, is already looking ahead to her next project.
“I would love to one day write an autobiography, but for me it’s about timing and confidence,” she told the website.
“Writing an autobiography is deep, you have to let every cat out of the bag. I’d love to do one, especially now it’s 10 years on from the X Factor, so I feel like soon would be a nice time.”
