Tasha Ghouri Returns to Thirsk for Book Signing, Shares Message of Self-Love

Strictly Come Dancing finalist Tasha Ghouri expressed that it was “really lovely” to be back in her hometown of Thirsk to sign copies of her book at her local shop. The former Love Island personality engaged with young admirers at the White Rose Book Cafe located in Market Place, a little over a week following her participation in the dance competition alongside her partner Aljaz Skorjanec. Ghouri, aged 26, who utilizes a cochlear implant, collaborated with Lizzie Huxley-Jones to co-write “Hits Different,” a narrative about a deaf dancer’s path to self-love. She informed the BBC that she was “so glad to be coming back to my roots” following a year largely dedicated to Strictly. Ghouri stated: “Every Christmas I come back and especially now after Strictly, I’m so glad to be coming back to my roots as this is where I am from, where my childhood was.” She continued: “To be back where my family and friends are is great, but also to be back at my local bookstore signing books is just really lovely.” Regarding the book’s content, she explained: “The book is about a deaf dancer called Cassie, who is a bit like me, and she is on a journey of self-love and finding herself, and she finds a man that really loves her for her, but the true message of the book is about loving yourself first before you can find someone that loves you.” She added: “There is such a beautiful message in the book of self-empowerment and finding your inner strength with your disability.” Ghouri mentioned that her motivation for writing the book was to illustrate that “really embracing who you are as a person” is the ultimate form of empowerment. She further stated: “Always chase your dreams as nothing is impossible, especially for me, a girl from Thirsk, as I didn’t give up and achieved my dreams and focussed on my own path.” Concluding her remarks, she advised: “So stay true to yourself.” Sue Lakes, the director of the White Rose Book Cafe, conveyed that the entire staff was “super excited” to host Ghouri at the establishment. Lakes recounted: “As soon as we found out she was on Strictly I messaged her father and asked if there was any possibility she could come and sign her book.” She continued: “I really thought nothing would come of it as she’d be so busy after the show, but we’re really lucky to have made it happen.” Lakes added: “The whole town has been supporting her, there has been such a buzz, so being the only bookshop in the town, we thought, ‘oh perfect time to have her for a book signing’.”