Aishah Akorede Narrowly Misses Dancing With The Stars Final, Sets Sights on TV Presenting
Table of Contents
- 1. Aishah Akorede Narrowly Misses Dancing With The Stars Final, Sets Sights on TV Presenting
- 2. Raising Awareness for Sickle cell Disease
- 3. The Grueling Journey to the Semi-Finals
- 4. A Role Model for Young Women
- 5. Future Aspirations: TV Presenting
- 6. The Fright Night Performances
- 7. Final Thoughts
- 8. What qualities do you think make a good TV presenter?
- 9. Aishah Akorede: Dancing With The Stars Exit & TV Presenting Aspirations – Archyde Interview
- 10. Reflecting on Dancing With The Stars
- 11. Raising Awareness for sickle Cell Disease
- 12. The Physical Demands and Building Resilience
- 13. Becoming a Role model
- 14. Future Aspirations: TV Presenting
- 15. The “Fright Night” Scare-athon
- 16. Final thoughts and Reader Interaction
Aishah Akorede, a 25-year-old model and law student from Leixlip, Co Kildare, was eliminated from Dancing With The Stars on March 9, 2025, just shy of the final. Her time on the show was marked by impressive resilience, especially considering her battle with sickle cell disease.
Raising Awareness for Sickle cell Disease
Akorede aimed to use the platform to educate and inspire others about sickle cell disease, a genetic blood disorder affecting approximately 68,000 people in Europe. She previously discussed her experiences with “painful” health episodes. Her dedication to raising awareness is particularly crucial, as Ireland has a growing population of adults and children with transfusion-dependent sickle cell disease, according to recent health reports.
Akorede: “When I say the word sickle cell. I think ther are so many illnesses, a lot of people wouldn’t know [what it is]. The main thing is for people to be kind to people, you never know what anyone is going through, please be kind.I have raised awareness and I want to continue to do that on a larger, national scale.”
The Grueling Journey to the Semi-Finals
Despite being hospitalized earlier in 2025, Akorede maintained a rigorous seven-day-a-week training schedule for Dancing With The Stars. She expressed initial exhaustion, stating, “At the beginning I was [exhausted],” but added, “But I built up the strength and resilience of dancing around.When you start something new and keep going and progressing,it’s how you get stronger.”
She initially feared she couldn’t keep up, admitting, “At the beginning it was tough but you get better every week. When I was first going into the show, I was terrified I’d never be able to keep up but I kept up all the way to the semi finals.”
A Role Model for Young Women
Akorede’s participation in the show has resonated deeply with young women who see her as a role model. She shared, “I get a lot of messages everyday from women. That was my goal, to help women feel comfortable, confident and aware by speaking about my life and my journey.I have been able to fulfil my purposes in life. I feel blessed that young women say they have been impacted.”
This impact underscores the importance of representation and the power of sharing personal experiences to inspire and uplift others. Her goal was “to help women feel comfortable, confident and aware by speaking about my life and my journey”.
Future Aspirations: TV Presenting
Looking ahead, akorede has her sights set on a career in television presenting. As she states, “I am gonna say it now, I really, really want to be a TV presenter. I believe I have the qualities to be a presenter. If I have to do an internship to get to that point…”
Her determination to pursue this path is evident, and she’s ready to put in the work to achieve her goals. Also,now she will return to working on her dissertation and explore “opportunities” in her email inbox.
The Fright Night Performances
On “Fright Night” Olympian Rhys McCLenaghan and partner Laura Nolan earned extra five points for winning the “Scarethon”. Jack Woolley and his partner found themselves in the bottom with Akorede. Rhys McClenaghan and Jack Woolley had a score of 40 from the judges.
Final Thoughts
Aisha Akorede’s journey on Dancing With The Stars was more than just a competition; it was a testament to resilience, advocacy, and the pursuit of dreams. Despite narrowly missing the final, she remains “so proud I made it. I genuinely thought I’d be out first. When it came down to the public vote,I didn’t think I’d be here this long.” Her dedication to raising awareness for sickle cell disease and her aspiration to become a TV presenter highlight her commitment to making a difference. As she embarks on her next chapter, her story serves as an inspiration to us all: “I’m really proud of myself. I want to raise awareness of sickle cell. I want people to know what it is indeed. People can look at my journey. No matter what you’re going through you can pick yourself up.” Stay tuned for what’s next for Aisha, and consider supporting sickle cell awareness initiatives.
What qualities do you think make a good TV presenter?
Aishah Akorede: Dancing With The Stars Exit & TV Presenting Aspirations – Archyde Interview
We sat down with aishah Akorede, fresh from her impressive run on Dancing With The Stars, to talk about her experience, her advocacy for sickle cell disease awareness, adn her future goals. Archyde’s entertainment correspondent, Sarah Chen, conducted the interview.
Reflecting on Dancing With The Stars
Sarah Chen: Aishah, congratulations on making it so far on Dancing With The Stars! you were just shy of the final. How do you feel reflecting on the whole experience?
Aishah Akorede: Thank you,Sarah! It’s been a complete whirlwind. I’m incredibly proud of myself. Honestly, at the beginning, I didn’t think I’d make it past the first few weeks. To reach the semi-finals feels like a huge accomplishment.
Raising Awareness for sickle Cell Disease
Sarah Chen: Your dedication to raising awareness about sickle cell disease was truly inspiring. Can you tell us more about why this was so crucial to you, especially on such a public platform?
Aishah Akorede: It’s something very close to my heart. Sickle cell disease affects so many people, yet awareness is still quite limited. I wanted to use the platform Dancing With The Stars provided to educate and inspire others, showing that you can pursue your dreams even while managing a chronic illness. Representation matters, and I wanted to be that representation for young people with sickle cell.
The Physical Demands and Building Resilience
Sarah Chen: We certainly know the training schedule for the show is rigorous. You’ve also spoken about dealing with health challenges. How did you manage the physical demands of Dancing With The Stars?
Aishah akorede: It was definitely challenging! At the beginning,I was weary. But I gradually built up strength and resilience throughout the competition. It’s amazing how pushing yourself physically can also build mental fortitude. I learned so much about my own capabilities.
Becoming a Role model
Sarah Chen: Many young women have reached out to you, viewing you as a role model. How does that make you feel, and what message do you hope to send to them?
Aishah Akorede: It’s incredibly touching and humbling. My goal was always to help women feel cozy, confident, and aware by sharing my life and my journey. To know that I’ve had a positive impact on even one person makes it all worthwhile. My message is to never give up on your dreams,no matter what obstacles you face.
Future Aspirations: TV Presenting
Sarah Chen: You’ve mentioned your aspirations to become a TV presenter. What attracts you to that career path, and what kind of shows would you love to host?
Aishah Akorede: I really believe I have the qualities to connect with people and bring energy and enthusiasm to the screen. I’d love to host a show that combines entertainment with important social issues, perhaps a talk show or a lifestyle program. Something that allows me to inform, inspire, and entertain all at once.
The “Fright Night” Scare-athon
Sarah Chen: “Fright Night” seemed intense this year. What was the “scareathon” like from your outlook?
Aishah Akorede: (Laughs) It was definitely…frightening! It’s all part of the show, and it’s all fun. The energy backstage was great. Everyone was supporting each other, even though we knew the competition was getting fierce at that point.
Final thoughts and Reader Interaction
Sarah Chen: Aishah, what’s next for you? And is there anything you’d like to say to our readers at Archyde?
Aishah akorede: I’m finishing up my dissertation and exploring all the exciting opportunities that have come my way since Dancing With The Stars. To your readers: thank you for your support and kindness, and please consider learning more about sickle cell disease. Remember, no matter what you’re going through, you can pick yourself up and achieve your goals.
sarah Chen: Aishah, thank you so much for your time and insights.We wish you all the best in your future endeavors!
Aishah Akorede: Thank you, sarah. It was my pleasure.
Archyde asks: What qualities do you think make a good TV presenter? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
