Zara McDermott goes makeup-free as she heads to Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals in shorts and slippers ahead of first dance with Graziano Di Prima

After the pomp and ceremony came the hard work as Zara McDermott prepared for another round of grueling Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals on Tuesday.

The former Love Island contestant, 26, made her ballroom debut at Elstree Studios this weekend, where she was partnered with Italian hunk Graziano Di Prima for the twenty-first series of the BBC comeback show.

But the happy rags were swapped for skintight shorts and heels were ditched in favor of comfy UGG slippers as she arrived at a local dance studio.

The TV personality completed her casual look with a black sports vest and appeared to go makeup-free ahead of her latest rehearsal session.

With a bottle of water in hand, Zara was ready for a long day in the studio before Saturday night’s show, when the competition kicks off and voting begins.

Casual: Cheerful chiffons were swapped for skintight shorts and heels were ditched in favor of comfy UGG slippers as she arrived at a local dance studio.

Let’s get to it: With a bottle of water in hand, Zara was ready for a long day in the studio before Saturday night’s show, when the competition kicks off and voting begins.

Fans were quick to hail Zara and her professional partner Graziano, 29, “the sexiest marriage ever” as the couple were revealed for the first time.

Viewers joked the Love Island star’s boyfriend Sam Thompson “must be sweating” at home, while praising the “absolute” partnership.

Zara and Graziano will dance the Cha Cha Cha for their first performance, and the TV personality admitted her nerves are already getting the better of her.

“I think I’m probably the most nervous I’ve ever been in my life. I’m not a born artist, I’m not an extrovert, so this is the biggest challenge of my life,” she said at Saturday night’s launch show.

Graziano added: “It goes towards the exotic, the Latin and it’s the darling Cha Cha Cha.”

Sharing their thoughts on Twitter, one fan wrote: “Zara and Graziano look stunning together. I support them to the end.

“Zara and Graziano might just be the sexiest duo ever?! damn it,” another agreed.

A third echoed: “Zara and Graz could be absolute fire!”

Charming: The TV personality was seen wearing an elegant silk dress in the studio

Incoming: Contestant Angela Scanlon was also seen heading to Strictly rehearsals in London on Tuesday.

Getting involved: Amanda Abbingdon carried a bag during rehearsals as she prepared for her first dance on the BBC show

Main man: Professional dancer Giovanni Pernice greeted onlookers as he headed to a local dance studio on Tuesday

Someone else joked: “I know Sam Thompson is crying at home right now watching Zara and Graziano.”

With other viewers writing: “I bet Sam Thompson is sweating now that Zara is partnered with Gratz” and “Zara’s boyfriend is currently crying in the green room.”

On Friday, Zara appeared on Lorraine to discuss the show – letting slip a little detail about her partner in the process.

The Love Island star chatted to the TV legend, 63, about his training and asked him about partnering on the upcoming show.

She said: “He’s amazing, he’s so nice. The training is harder than I thought. It’s arms and legs and feet, all these things you have to put together in my brain at the same time, but it’s an incredible experience.

Zara made history by becoming the first former Love Island contestant to win a place on Strictly – but insisted she won’t take inspiration from any of her former castmates when the series begins.

The TV personality rose to fame after appearing on the ITV2 dating show in 2018, during which her romance with Villa Lothario Adam Collard became one of her most dominant story lines.

She has since re-established herself as a BBC documentarian, with hard-hitting exposes on revenge porn, rape culture and eating disorders, which have won her a new army of fans – and a nomination for the author’s documentary at the National Television Awards.