Strictly’s Maisie Smith flashes her abs in a fluffy pink gilet and sweatpants

She is fighting for her place on the Strictly dance floor after landing in the bottom two couple’s during last weekend’s vote off.

And Maisie Smith appeared to be in high spirits as she arrived at dance rehearsals on Thursday afternoon, days before she is set to take to the ballroom floor once again.

The EastEnders actress, 19, was all smiles as she flashed a friendly wave while heading into the dance studio in north London. 

The soap star flashed her taut abs in a pink fur gilet and form-fitting mauve crop top, which she styled with sweatpants and a pair of Yeezy trainers.

Maisie carried her rehearsal essentials in two bags, including a pink barrel sports bag and a canvas tote bag which she carried over her shoulder.

She appeared to be wearing very light touches of make-up and wore her ginger locks swept back off her face into a ponytail. 

In an Instagram Q&A on Monday, the soap star was asked how people can ‘get confidence like her’.

The actress responded: ‘It’s a disguise. Deep down I’m scared to book an appointment for the hairdressers. I have to practise what I’m going to say.’

It comes after former Strictly pro Kevin Clifton claimed Maisie is a victim of sexism after landing in the dance-off on Sunday.

Kevin, who danced with Maisie in the 2019 Children In Need special, shared his shock and shared his theory why it had happened.

Taking to Twitter on Monday, he wrote: ‘People love a confident/ talented/ successful man but a confident girl gets labelled cocky.’

Maisie told fans that she usually trains eight hours a day for the weekly dance show, but admits she and her dance partner Gorka Marquez sometimes have to train for up to 10.

She admitted that she is ‘slow at learning everything’ because her ‘brain just doesn’t work after about 4pm’.

The actress also said last weekend’s Cha Cha was her favourite routine.

She added: ‘I guess that got me in the bottom two. But I loved it. I had the best time of my life and I loved being Barbie for a day. That was wicked.’

Kevin also responded to tweets from other Strictly fans who agreed that confident male contestants can be treated differently compared to the female celebs.

After sharing his amazement at Maisie and her pro partner Gorka Marquez’s position, the star – who left the BBC show before this series – received several responses.

One person said: ‘@keviclifton I don’t understand why every year the public are b****y. And say they don’t like someone as a person.

‘It isn’t a personality contest. It is a dancing contest. I for one love #Strictly. Nerves etc can make people come across as awkward.’