Strictly Come Dancing‘s Katya Jones and her finest buddy, snowboarder Aimee Fuller, could be two of essentially the most uplifting girls HELLO! has ever met, and after we sit down to talk about their friendship, they’re radiating happiness.
How are they doing, we ask them. “I am nice!” Aimee beams. “I’ve simply obtained off an E-Bike so I am completely freezing however feeling energised from the chilly.” Katya is equally constructive, “I am superior, as all the time.”
The nice pals are simply again from a three-week journey to Australia collectively the place they travelled across the nation making improbable reminiscences. They first met in 2021 and have been inseparable ever since, bonding over their comparable life paths, ardour for health and sharing many enjoyable occasions, in addition to being their for one another in the course of the lows.
Aimee and Katya went travelling collectively
Katya, 33, is understood for being knowledgeable dancer on BBC1’s Strictly, which she gained in 2017 together with her superstar accomplice Joe McFadden.
Aimee, 31, is a two-time Group GB Winter Olympian and broadcaster who presents on Ski Sunday and hosts her weekly podcast Monday Mile. Her e-book Worry Much less Reside Extra is out now. Katya and Aimee are additionally making their TV debut collectively on C4’s Superstar Hunted on 28 March.
Right here, they divulge heart’s contents to HELLO! about their friendship and reveal why their shut bond makes them so joyful
Aimee and Katya, inform us the way you met
Aimee: There are literally two tales of how we met the faux story and the true story!
Katya: We have been rolling with it for some time however let’s give them the reality now.
Aimee: I competed in South Korea in 2018 and Katya is half Korean. We have been telling folks that Katya’s nan was invited to take a seat within the grandstand as a result of she’s native to the realm. I stated my nan was there together with her British flag, and Katya’s nan was subsequent to my nan and he or she stated, ‘Oh are you supporting Nice Britain? My granddaughter lives in London, have you learnt the present Strictly?’ And my nan was like, ‘After all,’ after which our two nans launched us and ever since we have been pals.
Katya: I do not actually have a nan in Korea! It is a good story although, proper? We truly met via Neil, my ex-husband. I went to his celebration in 2021 and Aimee was an enormous a part of it as a result of she launched him to wake browsing; we spent his birthday wake browsing with a gaggle of individuals, and Aimee was one among them and we obtained on so properly. That was it, the beginning of the journey.
Aimee: The grandma story took place as a result of so many individuals ask us how we met and why, saying ‘Why are you guys pals?’ We did not know why we needed to justify it so we discovered it humorous to make up a narrative.
Katya: Folks see us collectively they usually cannot join why we could possibly be pals. There was no connection of mutual pals aside from Neil now we’ve masses as a result of we have built-in in one another’s worlds, however initially it was actually random. Neil is the hyperlink!
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Katya and Aimee hit the slopes Picture credit score:Max Howard
Why do you suppose you get on so properly?
Katya: There’s just a few issues. We’re in the same stage in life, the same age, we have lived that prime depth profession working onerous to attain our goals and now we have come to a spot the place we’re each single we bond over loads. We love a great chat and share the identical morals and values in life. These items are actually vital to us.
Aimee: I might say we’re one another’s greatest supporters, each out and in of labor. I really feel so grateful that I’ve had Katya there for the final 18 months it would not matter what it’s, she’s there. I am so excited for her success and seeing her rise, and that is reciprocated, which is actually particular in a friendship.
Katya: 100 per cent, she’s my primary cheerleader, all the time. Even over little issues. She’ll be working within the morning and I will be like, ‘Go on! How for much longer are you able to go?!’ It is highs and lows; in a brief period of time, we have been there for one another, via robust occasions as properly and that is the place you actually get examined.
The ladies have loads of enjoyable
How does your friendship make you cheerful?
Aimee: For me, it is having somebody there who I can belief with something. Belief is a extremely huge factor. There’s zero judgment in our friendship; I really feel like I am all the time essentially the most open, sincere model of myself, and if one among us is down, we deliver a lot positivity into one another’s lives. We assist one another out of that gap. And we’ve a hell of loads of enjoyable. It is such a powerful bond, I do not suppose we have ever gone a day with out talking. Every thing is reported!
Katya: After we say all the things, we imply all the things [laughs].
Katya and Aimee on an evening out
Aimee: London’s an enormous metropolis and we each have household outdoors of London. Katya is the closest factor to that for me, she is my London household, and I am so grateful for a buddy I can name on at any given second, with something.
Katya: It is one of many explanation why we bonded a lot, as a result of we do not have household right here. It is a huge security web. I do know that if both of us is having a low day, we all know tips on how to flip it round for one another, and we all the time have issues to look ahead to collectively. It would not must be an enormous factor; it may be so simple as ‘let’s go for a stroll and watch the sundown’.
We discuss this loads two females who’re profitable in our personal proper in numerous areas. We take satisfaction in supporting one another. It is a huge deal for us and we’re hopefully main by instance and spreading that power round. It is a constructive factor. Aimee evokes me by what she does; it offers me that kick up the ar*e typically if she’s doing one thing superb.
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Are you aggressive with one another?
Katya: No, probably not.
Aimee: The one time was lately as Katya’s obtained considerably higher at working and I am the runner out of the 2 of us. It was after our Australia journey and I might dragged her although 5 or 6 runs in 30degree warmth, then after we obtained again, she was smashing it. It simply impressed me and pushed me on to be higher, so we will utilise our friendship in that approach as properly.
When Katya’s doing Strictly and he or she’s working 1617-hour days and he or she’s up on the first light barely sleeping, working her bottom off creating magic that for me is inspiring to see. I am like ‘Wow! How does she handle to suit all the things in, nonetheless flip up, nonetheless have a smile on her face and proceed to make individuals joyful?’
That work ethic and professionalism, I take a lot from that, and I channel it into what I am doing. That is what’s so nice about friendship, there is a transaction of power, nevertheless it’s additionally uplifting one another and making one another higher.
The women even skateboard collectively Picture credit score:Max Howard
Why do you suppose making time for pals is vital for our wellbeing?
Katya: It is a very easy excuse is not it, ‘Oh I haven’t got time’. It is effort and selection. Belief me, I am actually dangerous at telephone calls. Anybody who is aware of me is aware of how a lot I keep away from talking on the telephone, so I attempt to overcome that concern Aimee will simply ring me out of the blue.
Making time for pals is sweet on your wellbeing. I all the time really feel joyful to know that good issues are occurring of their lives. By giving, you are getting. It is good on your head and earlier than you recognize it, you’ve got turned your day round.
The women took half in a river clear up undertaking Picture credit score:Brett Cove
Aimee: It is also accountability. Typically we e-book essentially the most ridiculous early exercises, nevertheless it’s nice as a result of I get to see my finest mate, we do one thing collectively and thru that dedication we additionally do one thing for ourselves. We do loads of that. It is taken us to so many various locations and obtained us making an attempt various things. Whether or not it is sizzling yoga, whether or not it is Barry’s gymnasium class, a energy coaching class and even partnership stuff like acro yoga I do this with Katya and loads of that’s belief.
Katya: You are proper. When you’re dedicated you must ship. It is a good way of getting issues accomplished.
Aimee, what’s it like for you when Strictly is on and also you see much less of Katya?
Aimee: It is like having my left arm minimize off! However I get to see my finest buddy do what she loves and see her shine. It makes me joyful seeing how joyful it makes her. What she does is actually unimaginable. I’ve a lot respect for ballroom dancing. I want I may transfer like that.
HELLO!: Would you go on Strictly?
Katya: That is why I am holding again on instructing her as a result of she’d have an unfair benefit. After I’m doing Strictly, Sundays are my solely time without work, which is not actually a time without work as a result of I do prep work and choreographing, however I nonetheless see Aimee loads. We’ll be there in her lounge making an attempt out a few of my dance concepts for the present, and he or she’ll be there lifting me the wrong way up to see if my celeb can do it!
Aimee and Katya sporting the denim jackets made by Katya
Picture credit score:Brett Cove
How do you suppose friendship could make us joyful in a approach a relationship cannot?
Katya: I’ll be fairly daring right here. We chuckle about it loads and we name one another ‘wives’ however I genuinely suppose our friendship is all the things, with out the sexual half and connection. Is it too far to say that Aimee? That is the way in which I really feel.
Aimee: I might say I really feel precisely the identical. It is like the very best form of relationship, simply with out that half. We do joke about ‘It is my spouse!’ If we flip up someplace and Katya’s not with me, everybody’s like ‘The place’s your spouse?!’ It is honest to say and clearly life adjustments nevertheless it’s an inseparable bond and a friendship that I am so proud to be part of. Katya makes me joyful. It is so simple as that.
Katya: And also you make me joyful! Going a bit deeper into it, we discover it fairly stunning how many individuals discover our friendship unusually tight. I do not perceive why. Is not it what you count on from friendship? Do not you wish to have a buddy who brings you happiness once you see them?
Some individuals discover it uncommon how a lot time we spend collectively, however we’re each single who am I meant to spend my time with? I want for everybody to have a buddy like that of their life.
You latterly travelled round Australia and Bali collectively for 3 weeks. Inform us about it
Katya: We do not just like the touristy sort of issues we like to expertise locations how the locals would. We’ve pals in Western Australia which allowed us to see the native life-style. We went abseiling, went to the rainforest, and rode a bike because of Aimee’s talent.
What we observed loads there may be that individuals aren’t on their telephones a lot. They’re taking a look at you, they see you, they hear you and are open and work together with you. Earlier than you recognize it, you would be hanging out in somebody’s again backyard. They don’t seem to be in that rat race that we see in London loads.
Aimee: A lot of Australia is about human interplay, individuals, having coffees, strolling, and that is one thing we actually worth in our friendship. If we exit for dinner, we’ll sit there and chat. We can’t sit there taking a look at our telephones.
Aimee and Katya on their Bali motorcycle journey
Katya: We have got roles in our friendship. I do the analysis and planning after which Aimee will get a bike, and we journey for 3 hours to the opposite aspect of the island up the aspect of a volcano, like we did in Bali.
Aimee: It was essentially the most savage journey we have been via collectively. It was chilly, wet, extraordinarily steep and we had been the one vacationers for about 20-30 miles. It was loopy. We had been huddled collectively on that scooter.
Do you check out one another’s sports activities and hobbies?
Aimee: Katya learnt tips on how to snowboard, and I am so proud. When individuals ask if she skis, she says, ‘No I am a snowboarder’. I am like ‘Go on my woman!’ I am so proud.
Katya: Aimee was engaged on Ski Sunday, so I went to Austria then Switzerland, which was superior as a result of it was my first time in a ski resort. It was good to be there when Aimee was doing her factor, and we went to LAAX the place she used to compete.
In the meantime, my bum was black and blue and my knees had been smashed from studying to snowboard, however I carried on. On day six, I used to be shattered. At one level I felt like I could not stick with it, so Aimee put me on her shoulders and piggy backed me to the tip.
Aimee: I am fairly strong, I am not going to lie. I did used to throw myself off jumps for a residing so that you do must be fairly bulletproof.
Katya shares in Aimee’s ardour for snowboarding Picture credit score:Max Howard
Katya: I’ve heard loads of tales from Aimee’s earlier life and it wasn’t till I did it together with her that I understood what she meant. It is gnarly, it is onerous, it is freezing and also you simply get exhausted from the coldness of it and carrying this big snowboard bag all over the place in these boots. As thrilling as it’d look, it takes a toll in your physique. What Aimee’s been doing for years deserves large respect. It is very totally different bodily from dancing.
Aimee: Katya is a artistic genius when its involves reusing and recycling actually something; shes taught me loads about sustainability and shared her ardour. From hold cups to creating small adjustments with purchases within the grocery store, its made me extra conscious.
I even have loads of garments! Relating to vogue, Katyas ardour for turning an previous denim jacket into a press release piece from a charity store is a present in itself. She made me one! After which helped me make one for my mum for Moms Day. I really like the thought behind it and private particulars; I undoubtedly have a look at my wardrobe a bit in another way now.
What does the phrase ‘happiness’ imply to you?
Aimee: An abundance of affection and sharing of positivity. I actually imagine happiness is one thing that is shared it is just like the mixed power of individuals round you and that is why friendship is so vital. You are nothing by yourself with out individuals in your life. It is all about sharing experiences; it is not about sharing objects or issues that we personal. For me, happiness if about sharing life with unimaginable individuals, and one among them if Katya.
Katya: We should not search happiness externally as a result of that may by no means fulfill you. You might want to be joyful inside your self first to share that with others. When individuals say, ‘Oh you are all the time so joyful’, I believe it is as a result of we share it with one another and others. Happiness is available in a number of shapes and kinds.
Aimee: It is the easy issues. Simply being grateful for having legs and with the ability to stroll. Waking up and having the chance to reside one other day, as a result of not everybody has that. It is being grateful that we’ve the fortune to reside and for the little issues: a espresso with your folks, somewhat chuckle, smiling at a stranger on the street. When you radiate happiness, you then’ll obtain it.
Aimee Fuller’s e-book Worry Much less Reside Extra is out now, 7.99, revealed by Hachette.Comply with Aimee on Instagram and Twitter.You possibly can comply with Katya Jones on Instagram.
Watch Aimee and Katya on Superstar Hunted SU2C, Tuesday 28 March at9pm, Channel 4