SINGLE Dancing On Ice star Lady Leshurr is up for romance – and being pansexual means she could take a shine to a man OR a woman on the show.
The rapper and musician certainly doesn’t hold back when it comes to gushing about the line-up of sexy competitors on the ITV skating contest.
But for 32-year-old Leshurr, there are a couple of celebs who have caught her eye — even though one is 14 years older than her and the other 14 years younger.
She said: “Joe Warren-Plant is a young one, but such a cutie. He’s definitely going to win the hearts of so many young girls around the country.
“But I’ve watched Denise Van Outen as I was growing up and I’ve always thought she was beautiful.
“She’s like the girl-next-door, with the blonde hair and blue eyes.
“I grew up in a white neighbourhood. I was around blonde-haired, blue-eyed girls and I always thought it was attractive.
“It’s what you’re used to seeing — even Barbie and stuff like that, that was the dream girl.
“I’d never draw the line at anyone. I’m open to everything and I’m spontaneous. That’s why I’m pansexual — because I love experimenting.
“And if I connect with somebody and they happen to be, say, in their forties, I wouldn’t mind that. I’m only in my thirties.”
Although Leshurr is pleased to be single during the training for the show, she is also keeping her eyes peeled for love during the contest.
She said: “I’m pretty happy that I’m not in a relationship right now, because I wouldn’t know how to balance a relationship with all the work involved. It’s intense.
“But I wouldn’t say no to love on the show. My eyes are always open.
“And just look at the world we live in right now — we might as well take all opportunities while we can, because you don’t know what is just round the corner.”
But if Leshurr could pick anyone to take to the ice with, she would choose model and fellow pansexual Cara Delevingne, 28.
Leshurr — real name Melesha Katrina O’Garro — said: “Cara would be amazing to dance with because of her energy and her personality, and she’s got those eyebrows so she’d just be able to serve those looks to the camera and towards the judges. We’d automatically get through.
“I remember the first time I saw her was in a pizza shop in Los Angeles.
“She was behind the counter making her own pizza with Kendall Jenner and then she disappeared out the back door. That’s LA for you.
“But the first time we actually met, we just clicked and kept in touch ever since. She’s such an honest and lovely girl. She’s gorgeous.”
Leshurr is perfectly at ease discussing her sexuality, and has told in the past of finding drag queens and trans people attractive.
But she is less happy with people who dismiss the idea of labelling yourself pan- sexual as nothing more than a fashion statement.
She said: “Pansexual for me is about being attracted to somebody regardless of their sex or gender identity.
“You’re just attracted to their aura or energy. They could be anything — but not like a dog or a horse. There are a lot of people out there who need to be educated.
“There are so many different categories and if you haven’t bothered to understand it then you’re just gonna talk in a way which isn’t knowledgeable.
“I can’t really fault the people who think it’s a trend because some people may have done that. But the people who live this life, for whom it really is ‘them’, you’ve got to respect it and learn to educate yourself. Google is free, you know.”
Leshurr was advised against spelling out her sexuality and was told it would not help her career.
In 2018 someone tried to out her — so she decided to beat them to it by telling the world herself.
She said: “One of my exes already tried to expose me and I thought, ‘This is the right time for me to do it’.
“I’d always flirted with girls and stuff online anyway — it wasn’t as if I hid it. But if someone says it for you, it’s a bigger uproar.”
Leshurr is one of the biggest names in UK hip-hop, with a 2016 Mobo award for Best Female Act to her name as well as a British Empire Medal for services to music and charity.
She has had to overcome many hurdles to succeed, particularly her modest beginnings in Solihull, West Mids.
She said: “I was always told it’s not gonna work because I’m a female — a black female at that — but also coming from Birmingham with an accent that people just couldn’t stand. But I love my accent.
“The one thing I had was belief in myself — that’s the key to success. Of course, I still didn’t expect to be on Dancing On Ice.
“But I’ve found stepping out of my comfort zone often sees me doing things I really enjoy.”
Leshurr and her dance partner Brendyn Hatfield ended up in the bottom two at the end of last week’s series opener. That means they could leave the competition on Sunday night if their fortunes don’t change.
But Leshurr won’t be leaving with nothing because she says she has already seen the strenuous training tone up her body — and in particular she has developed the sought-after “skater’s bum.”
Leshurr said: “I wasn’t aware of it until I got on Dancing On Ice but then I heard people saying ‘You’ll get a really nice figure out of this.’
“I thought, ‘This is a win-win situation here because I’m learning a new skill and I’m getting a little peachy bum.’ I have a fast metabolism anyway and my mum has a very athletic body — that’s our genetics. My sisters and brothers, we’re all naturally toned.
“I’ve got a little six-pack and everybody thinks I go to the gym but I don’t. That’s just how my body is.
“But you can never have enough — I’ve already noticed a change in my bum and I’m happy with the results.
“You know that little line down the side of your thigh? Well, I’m starting to see it come through properly — and if I ever do get to wear anything like shorts you’ll be able to see it in the flesh.”
Let’s hope Denise and Cara notice it too.
LADY LESHURR leapt at the chance to appear in Dancing On Ice so she could have a positive focus following the tragic death of her sister.
Carmen, 39, lost her life to breast cancer a year ago.
Lady Leshurr said: “Growing up we were always dancing together, so she was one of the reasons I could dance in the first place.
“She would have loved to be watching me.
“It’s still upsetting. I have my little moments where I get low, but before it was terrible.
“I just thought I need to do something else to make me happy because I was just writing sad songs and that’s not me.
“I knew Dancing On Ice would keep me busy and keep my mind off things. It has helped me to be more confident as well, because I felt like I had lost a part of me when my sister died.
“Talking about her keeps her name alive and creates awareness of breast cancer because people need to check themselves.
“Carmen’s breast cancer was solely down to her not getting checked out and not telling people on time.
“But I believe that she is still with me, and I felt like she was really there with me on that first night.”
Leshurr has one other sister and a brother as well as nine half-brothers on her father’s side.
And it’s no surprise to learn that with all the moeny she has earned, she is now buying a house for her mum Carol in Birmingham.
The rapper said:“My mum, had to play the mother role and the father role. She clothed us, fed us and had three jobs while doing so.
“But she still managed to smile, and I just look at her and see strength and power.
“She’s my biggest inspiration. She has always showed and proved we don’t need anybody other than yourself to get through in life.
“The belief wasn’t there with my father at the time. And in general a lot of people wouldn’t expect to see me in the place I am now.
“Music was a way for me to express myself, but it was also a way to change my family’s life and that was the main thing that was pushing me.”
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