Dancer Vito Coppola, known for his role on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, has revealed a past struggle with bulimia that led to him collapsing on stage during a competition. Coppola, 33, described the eating disorder as "serious and potentially life-threatening" during his teen years, attributing it to the intense pressure and competitive environment within professional dancing.

In an interview, Coppola explained that he felt compelled to achieve a specific body type, often facing criticism from judges about his physique. "The judges told me my bottom was too big or my legs were too chunky," he stated. This pressure culminated in a collapse during a jive performance at the World Championships in Canada in his early twenties.

"I fainted during the jive because I had no energy," Coppola recounted. "You push yourself but being strong means stepping away from a situation that is toxic and is damaging you. I’ve never gone back [to dangerous eating disorders]."

He also shared the personal shame associated with his eating disorder, noting that he would purge his food for several months. "I felt very ashamed," he said. "It was a betrayal of my values — I was wasting food. I felt not clean and I didn’t have much love for myself."

Coppola's family was initially unaware of his struggles. His mother realized something was wrong when she discovered that food parcels she sent him were going uneaten. "I felt guilty because my family were so worried about me but they didn’t know what was really going on," he said. "They didn’t know I had a problem."

Following his recovery, Coppola has cultivated a positive relationship with food and has gained recognition for his culinary skills. In 2024, he won Celebrity MasterChef with an Italian-inspired menu. "People think that food is just food, but no, I keep saying food is life. It’s the first love of my life, food, and I cannot just wait to share all of this with my family," he expressed after his win.

Coppola is set to return for the upcoming season of Strictly Come Dancing in September. He has also offered advice to colleagues who have recently been cut from the show's lineup, emphasizing the importance of staying grounded.

"In the dancing world, there is this rule that I have personally learnt 'never to be too happy or too sad when something happens'," he said. "It just helps you to keep grounded and keep moving."

Describing his connection to the show, Coppola stated, "Strictly became my second family, Strictly is the reason I came to the UK. For me, it's a special bubble. It's a second family."