Singer-songwriter Mickey Joe Harte has insisted that he is a "better person" for taking part in Dancing with the Stars, despite exiting the show at the weekend.
The former You're A Star winner became the first celebrity to be eliminated from the competition, alongside his professional dance partner Daniela Roze.
Harte's participation on the show was confirmed last month. More on that here.
Despite delivering his best performances from the three shows, Mickey and Daniela were unable to save themselves from finishing bottom at the end of the vote count.
"I felt when we were in the final three, I knew Kevin’s vote was going to be very strong and I knew Danny’s vote would hold up, so I prepared myself for the worst at that stage", he said.
Harte continued: "I’m just disappointed that I didn’t get through for a few more weeks. And it’s Daniela’s first year so I wanted to stick around for Daniela and tried to do the best I could".
"That’s it really," the singer added. "You don’t want to be the first out".
Following their elimination, Harte's pro dancing partner Daniela Roze, praised the singer, whom she said was "amazing" to work with.
"There are so many admirable qualities in this man. He’s super hard-working and so dedicated. He put his whole life on hold for Dancing with the Stars", Roze stated.
"He was in the studio practically every day . . . Working with this man has been such a pleasure and I could’ve have asked for a better partner for my first time on Dancing with the Stars", she added. "We just got on so well. Our personalities matched brilliantly, and there wasn’t a moment in the studio where we had a disconnect".
Agreeing with Roze's comments, Mickey Joe Harte insisted that he enjoyed the whole experience of the show, despite his early exit.
"I’m a better person from this. It’s all positive. And while it wasn’t a good night for us, we had a good dance", he explained, adding that "all the friendships we’ve made on Dancing with the Stars. Myself and Danny and Kevin . . .".
Daniela also commented: "We call them the dangerous trio. They’re triple trouble".
Mickey Joe added: "They’re friendships you’d never make in a million years. You’re kind of thrown into this pot of people. And you end up coming out of it with friends".
However, Mickey Joe did admit that he would have loved to made it through to DWTS' Dedication Week, as it would have marked a very special moment for him and his family.
He explains: "I was hoping to get to the Dedication Week because my dedication would’ve been to my son, who made the transition from female to male".
"That was in week five, so I was hoping that I would get that far. After that I didn’t care. Well, not that I didn’t care - I would’ve been very, very pleased to do that".
Harte continued: "We had a nice dance planned and Percy my son would’ve been involved in that. There’s an important story to tell, and it just would’ve been nice to be able to do that, for him and for ourselves".
"And for people out there that are going through that or thinking about it. Maybe just need that little bit of support and encouragement", he added. "Unfortunately, it didn’t happen, but we might find another way".
"It’s one of those thingss. That was my initial goal, for obvious reasons".
