By Liam de Brun

Copyright manchestereveningnews

Strictly Come Dancing’s Ellie Goldstein is ready to compete on the latest season of the BBC series, becoming the first person with Down syndrome to do so. The 23-year-old will be looking to continue her quick ascent to fame by lifting the Glitterball with their professional dance partner. Last year’s series saw blind comedian Chris McCausland and professional dancer Dianne Buswell crowned the series winners. Ellie is among the 15 stars who competed on the pre-recorded launch show, which airs on BBC One on Saturday night (September 20). Speaking about joining the series she said: “I’m absolutely over the moon to be joining the cast and pros of Strictly Come Dancing this year. It’s a show I’ve loved watching for so long, and the chance to now be part of it feels like a dream. “I know it’s going to be challenging, but I’m ready to do it with the glitter and glamour and make some magic on that dancefloor. Let the Strictly journey begin!” Ellie began her modelling career when she was just 15 years old. After studying performing arts, she went on to work on campaigns with Nike, Vodafone, and Superdrug. In 2023 she made history as the first model with Down syndrome to grace the cover of British Vogue, having also appeared on the covers of Glamour, Elle, Mission Mag and Euphoria magazines. Previously speaking about her interest in modelling, she told the BBC: “I always wanted to be a model but I didn’t see anyone who looked like me on magazine covers so I wasn’t sure if I could do it but now I am living my dream. “I didn’t realise I would be famous one day but I have so much fun dressing up and wearing beautiful dresses. I did three catwalks at London Fashion Week this year [2023] and they were brilliant.” She added: “When I did the Vogue shoot, I didn’t know if my photo was going to be on the cover. My favourite teachers were there when I found out, I was at college, and I was crying and screaming. My friends said ‘we love you’ and ‘we are proud of you’ and ‘well done’.” Two years ago, Ellie partnered with Mattel to launch the first ever Barbie with Down syndrome , which she said on Instagram made her ‘emotional, and proud’. “It means a lot to me that children will be able to play with the doll and learn that everyone is different. I am proud that Barbie chose me to show the dolls to the world. Diversity is important as people need to see more people like me out there in the world and not be hidden away, Barbie will help make this happen,” she noted. Ellie has taken an interest in acting in recent years, showing up in a guest lead role in CBBC’s Malory Towers earlier this year. “I am so honoured to have been a part of the fantastic series Malory Towers. I’m beyond excited to see my episodes and share them with everyone. I absolutely love acting and feel so lucky to have worked with such a wonderful cast and crew,” she said. While she is now inspiring the nation with her hard work, Ellie said in a past interview that her parents were informed that she’d ‘never walk or talk’ due to her Down syndrome diagnosis. She told Yahoo! Life: “I love it and my family are so supportive of what I do so they keep me grounded. Doctors said I would never be able to walk or talk or learn but I have proven them wrong. I really am so proud of myself and just want to sing and dance, twerk and twirl.” When Ellie was five months old, she endured a 10-hour operation to close holes in her heart, going on to spend 10 days in intensive care and another week in the high dependency unit. Her mum Yvonne told the BBC: “After three weeks, we were able to take her home and her cheeky and determined personality began to shine through. My husband and I decided to bring her up as Ellie first and put the fact that she has got Down’s syndrome to one side. “Despite what the doctors said, she could walk by 18 months, was speaking by her third birthday and was able to read by the time she started school. Ellie stayed in mainstream education until it came to doing her exams and we moved her to a specialist school. “When she was a teenager, we decided to tell Ellie that she had Down’s syndrome. We were nervous about her reaction and showed her a special book but she kept saying, ‘I don’t look like that. I’m me’. I was worried it would knock her confidence, but it didn’t.” The full list of celebrities taking part in Strictly this year is Emmerdale ’s Lewis Cope, EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal, former Love Island winner Dani Dyer, Gladiators’ Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Doctor Who’s Alex Kingston, YouTuber George Clarke, drag queen La Voix, rugby legend Chris Robshaw, Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, TV personality Thomas Skinner, former I’m A Celebrity winner Vicky Pattison, Neighbours’ Stefan Dennis, Lorraine’s Ross King and former footballer Karen Carney. Meanwhile, the line-up of professional dancers for Strictly 2025 was announced back in June – with reigning champion Dianne Buswell, Vito Coppola, Amy Dowden , Johannes Radebe, Karen Hauer, Jowita Przytal and Aljaz Skorjaned among those confirmed. They will be watched and scored by Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas, with presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman also returning.