People claim that Strictly is a personality not a dancing contest. But I was thinking tonight that the most striking thing about Abbey is actually her looks. I know everybody is banging on about her enthusiasm and endearing personality but truly would all that squealing like a 2 year old be forgiven if she wasn't so pretty? Or that enthusiasm not be mocked as 'fake' if she had fat ankles? Add sexy Aljaz into the equation and I can understand why even Len didn't notice gapping the width of a bus in her QS. Look at past winners and they are pretty much all the most attractive in the field, especially the women. Do you have to be the most beautiful and preferably 30 or under to win the votes?

She isn't that beautiful to me. I pissed my sides when she sat on the wall swinging her legs about to the Beatles routine. Far funnier than anything Dave Myers has done.

She and Aljaz DANCED their way to the glitterball with aplomb. Get over it!

It's not people it is the BBC. It is what they say.
I agree Abbey is stunning but so are Susanna and Natalie.

I think all the four finalists were exceptionally attractive women so I don't think the OP is being quite fair. What about Suzanne's simpering and faintly puzzled eyebrows like a cutesy little girl look - or Sophie's strutting around like a schoolgirl?

Abbey was quite stunning, all the way through, in terms of the look she created with her dancing. I don't know about technical terms, nor do the other 5.9 million people who voted, probably. We just seem to like watching a nice, natural young woman dancing beautifully with her partner. No tricks, just dancing.

In terms of looking good together and exuding oh la la and va va voom when they dance, I don't think there has ever been a couple on Strictly as hot as the Double As

If it was down to looks, Rachel and Pasha would have lasted longer in the competition - both are extremely good looking people.

I agree that all the finalists are exceptionally attractive women - that's rather my point - fat oldies don't make it however good their personality. Both Abbey and, for eg, Susanna gush about the show and their partners in equal measure but in 40 year old Susanna that is 'simpering' and her 'faintly puzzled eyebrows' are interpreted as something offensive rather than a clear lack of botox but in Abbey are just a 'natural' young woman. I liked all the finalists this year but I do think looks (and in this case long lean physique) play a much bigger role than people are willing to admit.

Think the clue was in this being your LATEST theory. Having gone through other theories that actually might have some substance you have arrived at this one. All the women in the final are very attractive women and we have also lost male and female contestants who are equally gorgeous. What people final attractive is very subjective so you cannot possibly say Abbey is the most attractive, just as for many voters the past winners were not those they found most attractive.

Personally I think the winner of strictly is down to a simple equation: ability + likability + journey (i.e. how far have they travelled from where they were at the start). You can be the best dancer (Natalie) but if the audience do not connect with you or think that you have not started as a total novice then they will not vote or you in the numbers required for you to win. It might not be altogether fair but if it was just a dance competition then they wouldn't have the public vote and the judges as dance experts would decide the winner.

'Fat oldies' will also not dance as well as their younger, lithe and supple counterparts

That sounds very convincing. But actually, wasn't Abbey top of the judges leader board the very first week and consistently getting high marks throughout? What then was her journey? I absolutely agree with you that likability is key but I am saying in truth people are very influenced by looks in deciding what they think is 'likable' or rather what they are prepared to tolerate without saying someone is 'fake', 'smug' or 'pushy'.

She ia glamorous looking in a Cheryl Cole kind of way with fake hair, teeth and even lips. This appeals to the masses who follow Towie. If it was based on beauty, Sophie would hsve won. She leaves Abbey in the shade

Abbey does squeal and act a bit like a schoolgirl sometimes but that's her personality and the public like to see a real personality. A few others seemed to stay 'on message' too much and didn't seem as genuine to me. I'll also forgive anyone a few faults if they seem good natured and Abbey came across that way. At times in the final Abbey was on the balcony with the other celebs and she was really enjoying herself, being friendly, and joking with Sophie and Natalie. It was great to see.

Looking beautiful is a big part of dance though, and while pro dancers create the beauty with their lines and movement, being aesthetically pleasing gives some SCD contestants a natural head start at emulating that beauty.


I don't think it's a necessity though (Chris Hollins!) and Rachel Riley certainly proved that being hot and nice doesn't cut it without some dance ability too.

The straw grasping is getting to Olympic levels right about now.

All four women were stunningly beautiful so I doubt it factored in, likewise, the four pros are attractive in their own way too. And it isn't like like Artem & Natalie are hard to look at together.

It was a great final and Abbey and Aljaz deservedly won after consistently producing fun, memorable dances of an extremely high standard. It's not going to allow me to wear a tinfoil hat, but as far as ~theories go, it seems a pretty decent one for me.

I detest Towie, wouldn't even dream of following it. And I supported Abbey throughout.

Makes no difference to me if Abbey has fake hair etc, most of the professional dancers do, not to mention a few cosmetic procedures (Kristina has fake boobs) - so Abbey would have felt at home

Wow!

Just looking at physical beauty, on a scale of 1-10 I'd place Abbey and Sophie at 5 and Natalie as a 6 - and Susanna as a 9 - Flavia gets a 10 so you can see where I am coming from.

I find Abbey endearing and don't mind her childishness (or FWIW her accent) - but I neither find her physically attractive nor would want to meet her. The only finalist I'd want to have dinner (and a dance) with is Susanna.

Each to their own - and I hope I haven't hurt any FMs with Abbey/Sophie shapes.

Abbie for me turned from being an annoying woman acting stupidly into a nice woman with an endearing sweet happy personality.

She lived it to the full and I for one, even though I thought Natalie should have won was pleased that she did win in one way.

I think she has found a natural talent within herself.
She is now known for that and not just being Peters wife and a model.

Well I've been saying that now on other threads - people were distracted by the physical beauty of this couple - whatever their dancing ability. Abbey was clearly nowhere near as polished as Natalie but she has endearing qualities about her, not the least her beauty and of course that of her partner. They jsut look good together and we live in times obsessed with looks.

It is all about personal preference on what one finds attractive in body shapes.
I think Natalie and Susanna looked great, not too large and not too slim.
Very womanly.

Well, she definitely improved in performance and showmanship, especially in Latin. Her jive and cha was rather dire notwithstanding judges marks, which lets face it, have been very suspect. She may not have had a large 'obvious' journey arc as some, but she certainly improved and developed as a performer.

And I voted for her and Aljaz after Sophie because they worked hard to get there and came across as nice and sincere. Also for their AS last week which was wonderful and for the waltz last night. How they looked didn't make any difference to me.

I'd be interested to know how close the final four were. I think it was probably extremely close, especially before Sophie went. I really think that any one of them could have won it and what probably what did it for Abbey at the end was that she was perceived as more of a beginner than Natalie and a better dancer than Susanna.
As others have said, if it was simply down to beauty, Rachel Riley would have lasted longer as would Holly Valance, Jodie Kidd and Christine Bleakley is past series. I suspect that being a model and WAG is not a great advantage in Strictly, and Abbey deserves full credit for winning people over with her great dancing.

Exactly.

Beauty, or who or what is attractive, is of course very subjective.

However, attractive for me, is someone like Natalie Portman. Charismatic, cerebral and gorgeous.

Now, nothing personal against Abbey, but she's from the school of Katie Price. Not much between tut ears; not very feminine and erm... well you get the picture To be attractive, is to possess a personality as much as aesthetic qualities?

And i'm a gal. So, perhaps boys seek other traits in the superior species

Another poster did the sums based on online polls (as good an indication as we are likely to get) and came up with Abbey 30% and the other three ladies all 24 or 23% so close for the runners up but a clear enough win to satisfy all but the most argumentative!