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Amy Dowden has admitted that she is “not looking forward” to undergoing a procedure that will leave her with a permanently visible scar. The Strictly Come Dancing star, 32, underwent a single mastectomy to treat stage three breast cancer after she was first diagnosed in May. But last month, she was told she needed chemotherapy after further tumours were discovered following the surgery. In her latest update, the professional dancer shared a hospital selfie taken in the bathroom mirror, which showed her wearing a hospital gown and a face mask. She wrote over the photo: “Really not looking forward to this! Another scar this one only [an] inch long but will always remind me and will always be [visible].” Dowden also shared a series of photos from the procedure, which saw her getting fitted for a port for chemotherapy. Dowden wrote in the caption that she wanted to share her journey as she undergoes the treatment to “hopefully get others checking and for understanding what we go through”. “Wasn’t looking forward to it. Wasn’t easy... My veins! Feeling tender, bruised and sore but the port will help massively over the next few weeks and allow me to dance when I feel well enough,” she continued. “A port sits under the skin and the tube goes along my vein to the heart giving safe access for chemo (I believe. I’m no doctor!).” It comes after Dowden, who also suffers from Crohn’s disease, revealed in an Instagram Live chat with breast cancer survivor and Paralympian Erin Kennedy that “everything changed” for her. “I was originally going to have a lumpectomy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment. But then, after my MRI, they found another tumour so then it changed into a mastectomy and then, after my mastectomy, unfortunately, they found even more tumours,” she explained. “They found another type of cancer and then they told me I needed chemo – for me that was a massive blow. It wasn’t in the plan, originally – and I know the plan you can’t get fixated on.” She expressed fears that chemotherapy would stop her from her dance practice, adding: “You can take away my boob but you can’t take my dancing away from me and that’s what I get really upset about.” After her initial breast cancer diagnosis, Dowden was optimistic that she would be able to return to Strictly this year. However, her new treatment means she will not be able to do so in a competitive capacity. “This year, it means I’m not going to be able to dance with a celebrity on Strictly, but I’m in such regular contact with the team – the BBC have just been utterly incredible,” she said. Last week, Dowden made an emotional return to the set of the dance competition to see all her colleagues ahead of her treatment. In an Instagram Story update, she revealed she had surprised her friends on set and said: “I had happy tears to see them all. I got to watch some of the dancing, catch up with them all and hear some exciting plans for this series. I am excited for you guys, it is going to be absolutely brilliant.” Dowden first revealed her diagnosis in hopes it would raise awareness around the disease alongside her existing work on Crohn’s, a lifelong disease that affects parts of the digestive system. In 2020, she fronted a BBC documentary about how her life has been impacted by Crohn’s, titled Strictly Amy: Crohn’s and Me. Dowden is married to her long-term partner Benjamin Jones, who is also a professional dancer. They wed in 2022. Read More A psychic said she’d spoken to my late partner’s spirit – and I didn’t like it Prince Harry’s eco-tourism company quietly announces new board of directors - and he’s not on it Bakery delivers brilliant response to ‘well-known celebrity’ offering ‘exposure’ in return for free cakes Amy Dowden announces absence from Strictly Come Dancing due to chemotherapy Psoriasis Awareness Month: Everything you need to know Mandy Moore opens up about her two-year-old son’s Gianotti-Crosti Syndrome diagnosis

More than a dozen Black models are boycotting Melbourne Fashion Week in response to what they claim is industry-wide racism. The group of 13 performers are refusing to walk for runway shows or participate in casting calls in order to shine a light on the discrimination they face in Australia, which they say wouldn’t be allowed in Europe or the US. They say the discrimination includes being paid significantly less than their white counterparts, the alleged use of racial slurs, as well as hairdressers talking derogatively about African hair. “Black models doing Australian fashion is a form of self-destruction”, said Sydney-based Awar Malek, 24, told The Sydney Morning Herald. “It is absolutely the most traumatising, and dehumanising, underpaying, and overall mentally draining week and I have no desire to continue to participate.” South Sudanese-born model Nylow Ajing added: “In London, New York and Paris, you could not get away with what the fashion industry is doing here and how it treats black models, but they don’t seem to care or want to change.” The idea for a boycott came after a group of 13 models formed a private group chat to exchange stories and support each other earlier this year. “We never wanted to resort to this but there is only so much we can take,” 30-year-old Jeffrey Kissubi told the newspaper. “Maybe the industry will care about our experiences when it comes from a group rather than one individual that they can quickly silence or just ignore.” They accused brands of “tokenism”, alleging they hire “plenty of Black models” during fashion weeks when they can pay them less. “It’s the only time they hire black models in numbers, and honestly, it’s because we are the cheapest at this time. It’s good PR for them. It looks like ‘wow, these campaigns are really inclusive’, but the next week and the next month, we have no work, and they go back to whitewashing fashion,” Malek added. The casting of models at fashion weeks is decided by exhibiting label, and not festival organisers. A spokesperson for the City of Melbourne said all models participating in the fashion week receive equal pay “with the exception of some higher profile models – including those from diverse backgrounds”. “We were not aware of any concerns relating to diversity or race involving Melbourne Fashion Week. Discrimination of any kind is not tolerated,” a statement to the BBC read. Other grievances raised include a lack of diversity across hair and makeup artists, casting agencies, and photographers. Nyaluak Leth, who relocated to the UK where “Black models are celebrated and valued”, said: “In 2019 behind the scenes at Sydney Fashion Week, one of the black models approached me and asked me to braid her hair and I said ‘but darling, there are so many empty seats in the hair section’, but I could tell that she was really reluctant to even ask for help... because she didn’t trust that anyone knew how to do her hair and she was definitely right.” The models boycotting not just MFW, but the larger industry, have said they’re speaking out despite fears for their career in a bid to bring reform. “I don’t want to speak out, but I have to, or nothing will change,” Kissubi said. The chief executive of the Australian Fashion Council, Leila Naja Hibri told the Sydney Morning Herald: “The Australian fashion industry is uniquely placed to actively engage in equitable, diverse and inclusive responsible practice. The Australian Fashion Council is not involved in the running of fashion weeks or brand marketing events, but we do require all AFC Members to abide by our code of conduct. “This stipulates that we do not tolerate any form of discrimination or inappropriate conduct towards others based on gender, race, or national or ethnic origin. ” The Independent has contacted representatives for the City of Melbourne for comment. Read More Hailey Bieber addresses her and husband Justin Bieber’s wildly different styles Britney Spears tells story behind matching double-denim moment with Justin Timberlake How to do Halloween make up and still take care of your skin Hailey Bieber addresses her and husband Justin Bieber’s wildly different styles Britney Spears tells story behind matching double-denim moment with Justin Timberlake How to do Halloween make up and still take care of your skin

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It isn’t surprising that Colombian singers Karol G and Shakira recently joined their creative forces to create the banger “TQG.” Shakira famously ended her long-term relationship with Spanish athlete Gerard Piqué in June 2022 because he cheated on her with his current girlfriend Clara Chia Martí — an infidelity Shakira allegedly discovered because Martí had eaten Shakira’s jam after spending the night with Piqué in their house — and Karol G also ended her engagement with Anuel AA after photos of him at a strip club emerged online. Since her split, Shakira has released songs that directly and indirectly mention her separation — “Monotonía,” “Te Felicito,” and “Bzrp Music Sessions #53” — thus making pop music out of the betrayal she suffered, and Karol G followed suit with the veteran pop diva when she released “TQG.”