She landed a coveted spot at the Royal Ballet School at the tender age of 16, where she trained as a professional dancer.
And Debbie McGee hailed back to her ballerina roots as she transformed into a real-life fairy for her dramatic showdance with partner Giovanni Pernice during Saturday night’s live Strictly Come Dancing final.
The 59-year-old stunned with her ‘ethereal’ performance to One Day I’ll Fly Away by Vaults where she scored a near-perfect 38 out of 40 points – but left viewers infuriated as they claimed she had an advantage.
Dazzling: Debbie McGee hailed back to her ballerina roots as she transformed into a real-life fairy for her dramatic showdance during Saturday night’s live Strictly Come Dancing final
Debbie had struggled to hold back the tears as she admitted the magical tune made her cry ‘every time’.
Darcey, a trained ballerina herself, said: ‘You are so perfectly petite, like this magical sparkle for Giovani, it is so endearing.
‘How after that spinning lift, how did you find your balance after that? It is extraordinary work! Very, very beautiful
Breathtaking: The 59-year-old stunned with her ‘ethereal’ performance to One Day I’ll Fly Away by Vaults where she scored a near-perfect 38 out of 40 points
Ethereal: Debbie had struggled to hold back the tears as she admitted the magical tune made her cry ‘every time’
On a high: Darcey, a trained ballerina herself, said: ‘You are so perfectly petite, like this magical sparkle for Giovani, it is so endearing
Shirley, struggling not to well up, added: ‘It was quite emotional actually. This show dance shows your growth and how far you have come.
‘In the beginning, you dared to dream and your dreams have come true. Everyone wants to take you home and watch you sparkle
Speaking after their comments, Debbie looked choked up as she admitted: ‘It’s the music, every time I’ve done it I’ve cried and it takes over you, I was really worried that if I got too emotional I wouldn’t pull it off.
Not impressed: Viewers were outraged the trained ballerina had been allowed to perfom a ballet-inspired dance and took to Twitter to express their anger
However, viewers were outraged the trained ballerina had been allowed to perfom a ballet-inspired dance, tweeting: ‘I see Debbie isn’t even bothering hiding her ballet background anymore. Total travesty. She should never have been allowed on! #Strictly #fix
‘#Strictly just a reminder people, Debbie was once part of The Royal Ballet and ran her own ballet school #JustSaying
‘Still catching up with Strictly. Debbie’s show dance consisted of being spun around and around and reminding us she’s a trained ballet dancer. Meh’
Beautiful: Darcey contintued: ‘How after that spinning lift, how did you find your balance after that? It is extraordinary work! Very, very beautiful
Perfect: Shirley, struggling not to well up, added: ‘It was quite emotional actually. This show dance shows your growth and how far you have come
@bbcstrictly it’s ballroom not ballet Debbie, you don’t deserve to win strictly ballroom doing ballet like Craig said’; ‘Catching up with Strictly. Loved choreography in Gemma’s show dance – well done Aljaz. Huge problem (mine) with ballet based dance by ballerina Debbie though. #scd
‘Debbie the ballet dancer does a ballet dance. What a surprise #Strictly’; ‘Debbie, a trained ballerina whose show dance is ballet based. How is this fair? #StrictlyFinal #strictly #SCD #StrictlyComeDancing’
Others rushed to her defence, however, commenting: ‘@ Everyone attacking Debbie’s showdance for having ballet in it – you realize there’s absolutely no rules on style for a showdance.’
Embrace: Debbie looked choked up as she admitted: ‘It’s the music, every time I’ve done it I’ve cried and it takes over you, I was really worried that if I got too emotional I wouldn’t pull it off