Dancer, 12, celebrates double world championship win
A 12-year-old girl says it was "mind-blowing" to walk away from a dance competition as a double world champion.
Isla, from Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset, competed at the World Freestyle Championships at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on 28 and 29 June.
Advertisement
She entered the freestyle solo and slow dance categories, facing up to 60 dancers from countries including South Africa, Ireland and Norway.
Isla, who trains at Dynamics School of Dance in Bristol, said: "It's like living in a dream."
Isla's mother said her daughter's achievement at this age was "crazy" [Family handout]
Isla's mother Fiona said she was "absolutely shocked" by the result, especially as her daughter had only recently taken up dance.
"To achieve something like this, being so young, is crazy," she said.
Fiona said her daughter was so nervous after a win on the Saturday of the competition as she waited to compete in a final the next day.
Advertisement
"She told me she couldn't feel her legs… and slipped on her opening move... so to win from that, we just weren't expecting it at all," she added.
Isla said winning both titles feels like she is "living in a dream" [Family handout]
Emma Mounter, head of Dynamics School of Dance, said: "Everyone at the dance school is just super proud.
"She's extremely hard working and anything we throw at her, she takes on the chin and works exceptionally hard."
Isla said she was grateful to her dance teachers Ms Mounter and Maizie Rugman, and her sponsor Alex Weston "for everything they have done to help me achieve this".
Her mother said she was not sure when it would sink in but "we can't wait to see what's ahead for Isla".
Advertisement
Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Lena Dunham on fatphobia, dating advice and her new London rom-com
Lena Dunham is almost synonymous with New York City. The US actress, writer and director rose to fame with her award-winning semi-autobiographical series Girls, which followed four 20-something women as they navigated love, life and friendship in the Big Apple. But her latest project - a Netflix rom-com loosely based on her life over the last few years - is set on the other side of the Atlantic. Too Much follows Jessica (Megan Stalter), who moves from New York to London after breaking up with her boyfriend, and falls in love with punk musician Felix (Will Sharpe). Just as Dunham did when she moved to London in 2021, Jessica quickly learns the important things about the UK: everybody loves Paddington, the Jaffa Cake debate is highly contentious (it's definitely a biscuit) and a "housing estate" isn't the sprawling gardens of a lavish manor house. Dunham tells the BBC that while Too Much has "superficial similarities" to her life and is "about 5% autobiographical", she didn't see herself ever playing the show's protagonist in the way she did in Girls. "I didn't consider Jessica to be me - she's inspired by my life but is her own character and was written with Megan in mind," she says. Megan Stalter says Girls "was all about sex and Too Much is about falling in love", which is a similar to how Dunham sees the show. There was also another reason she chose to step away from the spotlight. While filming Girls, in her 20s, Dunham's body was heavily scrutinised and last year, she told the New Yorker she "was not up for having my body dissected again". She explains that body shaming was part of the reason she stepped further behind the camera. "Just being perceived was overwhelming," she says. Dunham has spent the past few years focusing on writing projects that don't centre her as an actor. She believes society has made some strides towards being more body positive, but says the culture we live in is still "so deeply fatphobic, misogynistic, racist and ageist and that informs our dynamic with our body". The 39-year-old has been vocal about challenges she's faced with her health, particularly her endometriosis, which led her to have a hysterectomy aged 31. Asked how her relationship with her body has changed since then, she says she's developed a new love for how she looks. "I've been able to have a relationship with my body that exists outside of the cultural pressures and I feel lucky for that." As well as reflecting on how her self image has changed, Dunham also says she's learned a lot since her 20s. Having been in the spotlight for more than decade, the actress has had her fair share of controversies. In 2017, she defended Girls writer Murray Miller when he was accused of sexual assault. Dunham later apologised, saying it was "absolutely the wrong time" to share her perspective. Miller vehemently denied the claims and was not charged. She also apologised for a "distasteful joke" she had made on a podcast saying she wished she'd experienced a termination when discussing the US abortion. "I thought, back then, it was important to just keep going and be tough no matter what happened," she reflects. "I was so focused on work and not letting any of the noise in but I wish I had allowed myself to take more time and space. We all have to acknowledge our own complexities and sensitivities but it's hard to wrap your head around that when you're in your 20s." Dunham's new 10-episode series stars Hacks actor Megan Stalter and Will Sharpe, best known for playing Ethan Spiller in The White Lotus and films such as A Real Pain. Sharpe, 38, says he relates to the challenges his character faces, as "everyone carries baggage from their previous relationship" and feels vulnerable when they enter a new one. Stalter relates to her character too. The 34-year-old says she often "felt like she was too much" in her 20s but with time, has come to be proud of her who she is. Written with Dunham's husband, musician Luis Felber, Too Much focuses on the evolution of one romantic relationship. It's refreshing in its realness - from serious conversations between Jessica and Felix to the fact Jessica's media salary stretches to a housing estate in east London rather than a Bridget Jones-esque flat in Borough Market. I ask Dunham if she has any dating tips for women in their 20s, given she's been through the rollercoaster of trying to find a life partner. She says the concept of dating has changed over the years, and back in the late noughties, it was "considered a last resort or a strange thing to meet someone online". Looking back, Dunham wishes she would have allowed herself to understand what she really wanted rather than just seeing the cultural expectations that were placed on her. "If I was letting myself understand my own desire, my 20s would have looked really different romantically." Too Much is released on Netflix on 10 July. Lena Dunham pulls out of directing Polly Pocket Lena Dunham 'sorry' for defending writer Lena Dunham criticises 'diet tips' cover Lena Dunham sorry for abortion joke
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Brooks Nader Reveals Her Period Led to a Wardrobe Mishap at Wimbledon — and People Are Praising Her for ‘Being Real'
Brooks Nader got her period and bled through her white midi skirt at Wimbledon in London on July 4 The model poked fun at herself over the wardrobe mishap on TikTok, sharing a clip of a blood stain on her white skirt 'A canon event for all us girlies,' a TikTok user commentedBrooks Nader is keeping it real. The 28-year-old model was at day five of the Wimbledon Championships in a white midi skirt on July 4 when — seemingly unexpectedly — she got her period, she revealed in a candid TikTok video. In the video of Nader at the London tennis tournament, she began by showing herself from the torso up before flipping the camera to her friends making judgmental expressions — all while a cartoon-like blinking sound played in the background. Then, the camera returned to the model, who turned around to reveal a small stain in the back of her white bottoms. But Nader took the mishap in stride, flipping back her hair as the video panned down to the stain. Nader joked that she tried 'to be chic' with her ensemble — complete with a polka-dot top, sunglasses and a bouncy blowout — but instead, started her '🩸[period] at Wimbledon.' 'Of course 🎾,' the model added in the caption of the clip. As the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model poked fun at herself and the unfortunate situation, TikTok users filled her comments with gratitude for 'being real' by highlighting such a common but taboo occurrence. "You're so real for this,' one user wrote, while another said, 'Thank you for being real👏👏.' Others echoed this, thanking Nader for posting the relatable moment because 'every girl has had this happen 😭.' 'A canon event for all us girlies,' another user added. Nader's Wimbledon appearance comes amid a busy summer. Earlier this year, the model announced that she — along with her three younger sisters, who are also models — will be starring in a reality show set to air this summer. Like her, Nader's sisters Mary Holland, Grace Ann and Sarah Jane all moved from Louisiana to New York City, where they have each embarked on careers modeling. Love Thy Nader, coming to Hulu and Freeform, is described as a "coming-of-age docuseries" that "follows the unapologetic and determined Nader sisters,' per a press release. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. News of the forthcoming series follows Nader's headline-making stint on season 33 of Dancing with the Stars alongside pro Gleb Savchenko. The pair — who were eliminated from the competition series in October — sparked romance rumors during their time on the competition show. Though the duo never made their relationship official, PEOPLE confirmed they went their separate ways in April. According to a source, Nader suspected that the DWTS pro, 41, cheated on her and called things off. A rep for Savchenko had no comment when reached by PEOPLE. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Nico Hulkenberg Opens Up on Fending Off Lewis Hamilton's Late Charge at British GP
Nico Hulkenberg Opens Up on Fending Off Lewis Hamilton's Late Charge at British GP originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Nico Hulkenberg pulled off one of the most impressive drives of his F1 career at Silverstone, holding off a hard-charging Lewis Hamilton to clinch a stunning podium in the 2025 British GP. Advertisement It wasn't just the result that caught the eye — it was the manner of it. After starting deep in the field, Hulkenberg navigated a chaotic, rain-hit race to climb into podium contention. But the real test came in the final laps as Hamilton, spurred on by a roaring home crowd, slashed the gap. Speaking after the race, Hulkenberg admitted he felt the pressure from the seven-time world champion. 'I was thinking he's going to give it his all in front of his home crowd, and I was like, 'sorry guys, but it's also my day',' Hulkenberg said with a grin. 'It was intense. The pressure was there. But we didn't crack, made no mistakes, I'm super happy.' Nico Hulkenberg during the 2025 Miami Navarro-Imagn Images The Haas driver, who finished third just a week ago in Austria, produced another flawless performance in tricky conditions. He credited the team for nailing the tire calls and staying calm under fire. Advertisement 'It was a survival fight for a lot of the race,' he explained. 'I think we were really on it with the right calls, the right tyres at the right moment.' For Hulkenber, who spent years chasing that elusive first podium and only recently ended the drought, it's further validation. 'I always knew we had it in us, I had it in me, somewhere,' he said. Hamilton, meanwhile, had to settle for fourth in front of his home fans. But on a day when hulkenberg dug deep and refused to buckle, there was no denying it truly was the German's moment. Related: Lewis Hamilton Apologizes to Fans After Brutal British GP This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
