Strictly Come Dancing’s Mollie King reveals she won’t rule out dating apps on her quest for love
STRICTLY beauty Mollie King has revealed she is looking for love – and would not rule out using a dating app to meet her perfect man.
The former Saturdays singer, 30 — stunning here in Valentine’s Day lingerie — said that while she would prefer an encounter to be set up by a pal, she would “never say never” to using Tinder.
And she told how her ideal boyfriend would be “very attentive” to her, confessing that she cannot be bothered to chase after her love interests.
Mollie, the face of lingerie firm Boux Avenue’s latest range, said: “I’d love to fall in love, for sure. I’m quite a girly girl and want to settle down at some point.
“At the moment I’m playing third wheel a lot but I quite like it. I’d rather hang out with my best friend than go on an awkward first date.
“I’m quite shy on dates, but my ideal date would be if a friend set me up.
"I haven’t done the online thing, Match and Tinder, but it looks like fun, so never say never.
“Lots of my friends have met people on apps and it’s definitely the modern way to do it. But I’m a bit old school so I’d rather meet someone at a bar.”
I'd rather be friends than the wrong man
Mollie, who split from model David Gandy in 2016 after five years together, went on: “I think I’m quite fussy when it comes to the men I like.
“The main thing is they have to get on with my family, because we’re so close and I spend so much time with them. And they have to make me laugh.
“They also need to be attentive. I don’t really like guys who play hard to get and I can’t be bothered to chase somebody. I’m not good at the game. I’d rather somebody show me they’re interested.
“I’m also really attracted to personality, so if I see someone on Instagram or on a billboard, I’m not attracted to them until I know what they’re like as a person.
“The minute I meet someone I know if I’m attracted to them.
"And I don’t like cocky, arrogant guys, so if they were like that I’d be instantly like ‘No.”
Mollie, who was voted off Strictly in the semi-final in December, saw her relationship with dance partner AJ Pritchard drawn into the spotlight while they were appearing on the BBC1 show.
Then the romance rumours went into overdrive when she paid a gushing tribute to him after losing to Gemma Atkinson in the dance-off.
After calling him her “hero”, she went on: “AJ, I don’t even know where to begin. I have felt like the luckiest girl in the world, being able to dance in your arms every Saturday night.
“I can’t even begin to thank you enough for everything you have done. You are absolutely magical.”
But while she admitted they are still “so close”, she insisted they were never an item.
Mollie said: “With Strictly, you expect romance rumours, especially as I was single. But we could laugh it off because we’re so close.
“Every now and again I do get linked to people I’m not with and I’m trying to get used to that, but with Strictly it’s just part of it.
"While I would like to settle down, I’d rather be with my friends than the wrong person.
“This Valentine’s Day I’m going to get my friends together and have a nice girly night. We’ll have a takeaway and probably watch a few films.
“My worst Valentine’s Days have been when I’ve been away travelling by myself and stuck in a hotel room alone.
“But I’ve always tried not to let it get me down.
"To me, it would be worse to be in a restaurant opposite someone and to find it really cringeworthy. I find it embarrassing going out for dinner when you’re expected to stare into someone else’s eyes lovingly, because I never do that.
“I just stare at the other couples and stuff my face with the food, which isn’t very romantic.
“That’s why, when I have been in relationships on Valentine’s Day, I’d always prefer for the two of us to stay home and cook a dinner together.”
And while Mollie may not have a boyfriend to share Valentine’s Day with, she is well prepared for when the right man comes along — having been allowed to keep the Boux Avenue lingerie she wore for the modelling photoshoot.
She said: “The lingerie in this collection is just so gorgeous, I felt really lucky to be wearing it.
"I still get shy for photoshoots because there’s that moment when you take off the dressing gown and think, ‘I’m not wearing very much at all’.
I'm the most ungraceful un-flexible person ever
“And like any girl, I have hang-ups. I’d love to have a more toned tummy and an hourglass shape.
“But Strictly definitely helped me with that.
"I felt quite fit going into the show, as I’m quite good about going to the gym and boxing classes.
“But dancing is a completely different workout, and I could see the change in my body.
"I could see my abs toning up and my shape changing. So that gave me the confidence I needed to strip off. And it helped that I could pick the lingerie pieces that flattered me.”
Despite having an “incredible” experience on Strictly, putting in daily 12-hour rehearsals with AJ, it emerged last year that Mollie had unexpectedly been left out of the show’s tour.
And it was said to have prompted a furious backlash from AJ, 23.
But Mollie insisted she has made her peace with the decision, though she added: “I miss the people and I miss dancing. I miss waking up knowing I have to learn a routine and having something to aim for every week.
“It is quite hard to fit in that much dancing, but I’d love to try some ballet. I think it will really help with toning and keeping up that strength.
“Ballet dancers always look so graceful though, and I’m the most ungraceful, un-flexible person ever, so I might be the worst in the class. I might even have to join the beginners.”
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As for the rest of 2018, Mollie went on: “I have lots of projects. I’m co-hosting a show with Matt Edmondson on Radio 1, which I can’t wait to do. That’ll be a whole new adventure, being on the other side of the desk.
“I have some great TV projects coming up this year as well. Do they involve presenting work? Let’s just say they are a mixture of jobs.
“I haven’t asked Tess Daly for tips yet — but I might.”
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