Saara Aalto has vowed to make it all the way to the final of Dancing On Ice 2019 – so she can match her X Factor result.
Saara is no stranger to television talent contests, and has form for finishing in second place.
The ‘Monsters’ star competed on The Voice in her native Finland in 2012, and was voted the runner-up.
Four years later, she lost to Matt Terry in the final of the thirteenth series of The X Factor UK.
Now Saara is taking on the challenge of Dancing On Ice, and she’s determined to do just as well at skating as she has at singing.
“In my history, I’ve always come 2nd in TV competitions. So, I have to do it again,” she said.
“I have to be here until the end. I’m not going to give up!”
Saara, whose professional partner is Hamish Gaman, says she loves that Dancing On Ice is giving her the chance to learn a new skill.
However, rather than her rival contestants, she says her biggest competition is herself.
The former Eurovision Song Contest hopeful is concerned she may end up pushing herself too far on the ITV show.
“I love new challenges and I’m very ambitious. I have been skating before because I grew up in Finland and we just skated a lot when we grew up,” she explained.
“So, I might think because I’ve skated before, I need to be really good and then I’m doing too much and then I could hurt myself or something.
“Mostly I am competing with myself. I’m like, ‘Saara, you need to push yourself’. That’s how I’ve always been, I just want to challenge myself.”
Saara is one of six celebrities who will compete on the opening episode of the new series.
She’s up against Grease legend Didi Conn, reality favourite Gemma Collins and ex-Strictly pro James Jordan.
Also appearing on launch night are Coronation Street actress Jane Danson and Neighbours actor Mark Little.
The remaining six contestants will perform live for the first time a week later on episode two.
Dancing On Ice 2019 kicks off on Sunday 6th January at 6.00pm on ITV.
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