TWITTERING ON
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50 PLUS MAGAZINE
TWITTERING ON BY ANGELA KELLY Then the next thing is she becomes a qualifier at the US Open, immediately turns into a whirlwind and takes the women’s singles’ title! She ends up a Grand Slam Champion and world No.22, all while still studying for her A-levels. The best thing about our Emma, though, is that she comes across as a very ordinary girl who definitely has her head screwed on tightly.
STRICTLY SHOWS US LIFE AS WE KNOW IT AS a self-confessed fan of Strictly Come Dancing every new season is a genuine joy. But I’ve also come to realise that Strictly is a microcosm of life itself. There are goodies and baddies (well, judge Craig Revel Horwood on a mean day), brilliance and awfulness, wonderful success and crushing disappointment. Some couples become closerthanthis and some seem uncomfortable together, just like life. Some celebrity dancers reveal hidden talents and some should just stay hidden. And throughout it all is the joyous music and dance that underpins this very popular programme. This year’s crop has proved as riveting as always. Some lesser talented going out early and some really surprisingly talented celebs continuing their journey glitterball-bound. Why, though, is it such a mesmerising programme? Perhaps it’s because there’s a very strong feeling that if THEY can do it with no dance background, then perhaps we could dance as well. 4
Then there’s the costumes, the fake tan, the fabulous sets, the skilled professional dancers – all part of this regular dose of escapist glamour. It’s also partly a popularity contest, too, with a fickle public that can vote out even the most talented. Every season has shown this can happen and that innate talent and hard work don’t always win out.
She took winning and defeat in the same gracious stride, even when she followed up her epic American win by losing her next competitive match in the BNP Paribas Open in straight sets Such a highly visible loss when you’re riding the crest of a wave might have been tough to take for most players. Not Emma. She smiled, shrugged her shoulders – and started practising for the next event.
So there is the uncertainty of who might succeed. Also just like life.
She also said of her opponent, Aliaksandra Sasnovich: “I think Aliaksandra played a great match. She was better than me today so she deserves to win.
Whatever the reason, Strictly itself is the main winner. And we’re basically quite happy about that.
“I’m kind of glad that what happened today happened so I can learn and take is as a lesson.
EMMA’S PLAYED HER WAY INTO OUR HEARTS JUST when life looked a bit bleak in our Covid-19 hit world and the UK’s sporting future seemed uncertain, along came Emma Raducanu. Cometh the hour, cometh the woman. After winning the LTA British Tour Masters’ title last December, the 18 year-old from Bromley brightened up our ongoing post-lockdown gloom with a dazzling Wimbledon debut. Even having to quit when she unwell didn’t dent her obvious promise.
“There’s going to be disappointment after any loss. I didn’t go in there putting any pressure on myself because in my mind I’m so inexperienced that I’m just taking it all in.” No tantrums, no flouncing tempers, no excuses, just sensible acceptance and moving on. At a time when famous females are often largely personified by non-celebrities and fake fame, she’s a breath of fresh air and a real role model for any youngster. Not to mention a golden prospect for the future.
