Melanie Blatt opens up about vulnerability and dresses on dance floor

All Saints star Melanie Blatt has candidly revealed that her stint on the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special left her feeling deeply insecure.

Despite reaching the age of 50 with a newfound sense of self-assurance, the singer admitted the experience "stripped it away" from her.

The primary source of her discomfort was a flowing yellow gown she wore for her American smooth with partner Kai Widdrington, a garment she jokingly claimed made her “look like custard”.

Speaking to Good Housekeeping UK, Melanie explained the emotional toll of the ballroom transformation. “I felt extremely vulnerable,” she confessed, adding, “It’s taken me 50 years to feel as good as I have ever felt about myself and Strictly stripped it away from me.”

While she clarified that there was nothing "dodgy" happening behind the scenes, the requirement to step out of her comfort zone and into a traditional dress proved overwhelming.

Despite her internal struggle, the judges hailed her as “fabulous,” and she earned a respectable score of 36.

The 90s icon, who achieved five number-one hits with her bandmates, is now looking beyond the dance floor toward a future in food.

Having recently spent time serving burgers at a North London pub, she hopes to launch a cookery programme or book.

"The main thing I want from life is peace and happiness," she noted, expressing a particular interest in a project titled "Cheeses of the World." Her experience serves as a reminder that even seasoned stars find the glitz of reality TV a daunting challenge.