Stacey Dooley, 32, who is rumoured to be dating Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Kevin Clifton, 36, revealed she left school with no GCSEs or qualifications. Appearing in a video for NatWest, the documentary-filmmaker said: “I left school at 15, no GCSEs, no qualifications. “When I started my career, I remember walking into this very foreign, daunting environment and thinking: ‘I don’t sound the same, I don’t look the same, I didn’t study in any of these guys’ places…’” But the Strictly champion admitted she was not going to allow this to “cripple” her as she pursued journalism.
She said: “But you either let that cripple you and there’s that temptation to conform and behave the same, mimic their behaviour, or you think, ‘Actually, I’ve got to really take ownership of it here, work really hard and prove myself’.”
Stacey admitted she had moments of doubt and went onto explain there were times she felt like an imposter compared to the people around her.
The presenter said: “It is not always easy always silencing that voice of doubt in your own mind. I’ve certainly struggled with imposter syndrome, yeah, there’s no doubt about it.
“I suppose at the start, current affairs is very typically middle aged, middle class, male heavy, it’s very serious, quite highbrow, and I walked in as a 20-year-old girl from Luton.”
She added: “I sounded different, looked different, and didn’t study where they went to school. You do question whether or not you belong and I think there is that temptation to mimic their behaviour and conform.
“But I think that’s the worst thing you can do, I think you’ve got to celebrate how unique you are and take hold of those differences, make it work for you.”
Stacey’s admission comes after it was recently reported the Strictly star had moved in with her rumoured boyfriend, Kevin, after leaving the home she shared her with ex-boyfriend Sam Tucknott.
According to The Sun, a source told the publication: “Stacey needed somewhere else to live. Kevin has been really relaxed about letting her stay and so far it’s working really well.
“Stacey is not sure whether she’ll stay for good but for now it’s a good place for her to set up base.”
Express.co.uk has contacted Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton’s representatives for comment.
The reported new couple seemingly confirmed their romance on social media last month, after the documentary-filmmaker shared a snap of them both backstage at an event.
Meanwhile, Stacey recently announced some big news regarding her upcoming documentary series this week.
The presenter revealed she had finished filming for her new television series and revealed the topics she will be investigating in each of the six episodes.
In view of her 729,000 Instagram followers, she said: “New series is ALL FILMED.”
She added the episodes will include: “Latter-day Saints, child-led parenting, teen cage fighting, polyamory, YouTube family and landed gentry.”
Stacey also shared several snaps to give her fans a peek at the upcoming documentaries.