Nikita Kuzmin opened up about the personal struggles he’s faced while attending the Pride of Britain Awards (Image: Getty Images)Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxMore Newsletters SubscribePlease enter a valid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.More NewslettersWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More infoThank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow me See OurPrivacy Notice See OurPrivacy Notice×Group 28 Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxInvalid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.Sign UpNo thanks, closeWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info×Group 28Thank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow MeNo thanks, closeSee our
Privacy NoticeStrictly Come Dancing’s Nikita Kuzmin is known for lighting up the dance floor with his infectious grin, but behind the scenes, he’s had to navigate some tough times. The pro dancer, 26, has opened up about the personal struggles he faced when he had to ensure his grandmother’s safety amid the conflict in Ukraine. At the Pride Of Britain Awards on Monday night (21 October), an emotional Nikita shared with the Mirror: “It’s such a beautiful event. It’s honestly my favourite one of the year by a mile. It just feels like a pure, pure event. The bravest of people, the loveliest of people all come together but we are all just celebrating. It’s just the best thing ever.”
Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin at the Pride of Britain Awards 2024
(Image: Ian West/PA Wire)
He continued, visibly moved: “I’m not going to say their names and I’m not going to get emotional but there were a lot of people who helped get my grandmother out of Ukraine when the war started. I would give them my heart if I could – I would give them my heart… I’m already tearing up. [eyes red with tears]. It’s beautiful tears. You’re making me cry. I’m emotional enough and thinking about my grandmother makes me cry.” Sharing another insight into his life away from Strictly, Nikita previously spoke about living with Type 1 diabetes, revealing that connecting with fans who share the same condition has given him strength. During an appearance on ITV’s Lorraine, Nikita shared: “It’s not easy. Obviously, it’s a condition that you carry with yourself every single day. “But I always say that diabetes is our superpower. When we’re kids, to understand how to be scheduled, how to be responsible.” He added: “One of the best things in the world is when I go through the stage door after the show, I see all the teenagers and adults coming with me.
Nikita is partnered with Sam Quek on this year’s Strictly
(Image: BBC/Guy Levy)
The stars of Strictly at the Pride of Britain Awards 2024
(Image: Getty Images)
Sign up to OK!’s daily newsletter to get updates sent to your inbox for free “They show me their sensor and we tap them together. It’s our superpower and I know it might be quite hard. I’m also learning every single day. Realistically, I’m just trying to do my best.” Nikita continued: “Obviously, we have the technology today but it’s literally trying to make the best of it every single day and just see how it goes.” As he prepares for his solo tour next year, which will take him across the UK, Nikita confessed that he’s still in shock and feeling apprehensive about touring on his own. He admitted: “It’s quite scary if I’m being honest, but it’s very wild because I can never actually gather the fact that I could have my own show because I always ask why would people even come to see me? I have so many ideas, so many projects and I just wanna go there and give back to the people who spend their money coming to see me.”Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnStrictly Come DancingNikita Kuzmin
