'My weakness is right there for you all to see': An emotional Anastacia reveals she's working up the courage to show her mastectomy scars in Strictly's skimpy costumes

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Most Strictly Come Dancing competitors admit the show's glitzy and glam costumes are one of the biggest perks of the job.

And while US singer Anastacia is as excited as anyone to slip into her sequins on Saturday nights, she told MailOnline in an emotional talk this week that she's got a 'huge mountain to climb' as she builds up the courage to show her scars in the skimpy costumes.

The 47-year-old star has revealed that she has scars on her back after undergoing a radical mastectomy in 2013, and is hoping that with the help of the show's wardrobe staff she'll be brave enough to show them for the first time.

Courage: Anastacia has told MailOnline in an emotional talk this week that she's got a 'huge mountain to climb' as she builds up the courage to show her scars in the skimpy costumes on Strictly Come Dancing

Speaking to MailOnline at the launch of the 2016 series this week, the I'm Outta Love singer got tearful as she explained why competing in the popular dance show means so much to her. 

The singer, who is donating her fee from the show to breast cancer research, has been open about her battle with cancer, making the decision to have a double mastectomy after two battles with breast cancer in 2003 and then ten years later in 2013.

'I want to discover how to use my upper body,' she explained of her motivation for joining Strictly. 'With my radical mastectomy I had to remove my lats [latissimus dorsi muscle which helps you do twisting movements] completely from the back and attach to my front [to reconstruct my breasts].'

Ready to dance: The 47-year-old star has revealed that she has scars on her back after undergoing a radical mastectomy in 2013

'The costumes, I want them to feel comfortable but I also have these huge scars on my back so the costumes are very revealing.'

She went on to explain that the costume department on the BBC show are working with her to reveal as little or as much of her scars as she wishes, 'but I have said if I feel open to it, and feel like I’ve grown and gone past a mountain I would love to be able to accomplish that at least, to realise that I can show them.'

'It’s just that I’ve never shown them since 2013. It would be an intense situation. Even talking about it I have a lump in my front. I am there with a part of my heart saying I would be willing to but they’re very kind by saying I don’t have to.'

Speaking out: The singer, who is donating her fee from the show to breast cancer research and care, has been open about her battle with cancer

The singer added that she's keen to inspire other breast cancer patients to fight and be strong, declaring: 'We all go through this and even though I look so strong I’ve got these scars that I’ve never shown and my weakness is right there for you all to see.' 

The singer explained that she felt the British version of the show over the American spin off Dancing With the Stars, was the right place for her, pointing out that 'a lot of my career is European based and for me the American market just didn’t feel like it would be inspiring or fun.'

'They’re just stuck on the Americans in America, I didn’t feel like I would connect to all my fans out there.'

Ready for sequins: Anastacia, dancing with Laura Whitmore at the launch show this week, has explained that while for now she's keeping her scars covered, she's open to showing them later in the series if she grows in confidence

Confident: She went on to explain that the costume department on the BBC show are working with her to reveal as little or as much of her scars as she wishes

While she says she always immerses herself into UK life when on our shores ('I ride the tube and buy sheets in M&S'), Anastacia did admit she might need to brush up on her geography skills.

Last year, she appeared on Strictly's Blackpool special singing her hit single I'm Outta Love in the world famous Tower Ballroom, where she is thought to have caught the eye of the show's producers.

And Blackpool certainly impressed the US star. 'I thought, this is me being me, I thought Blackpool was Elstree so when I got there last year I was like "this place is f**king huge you guys, why don’t we ever see this on camera?" 

'And they’re like "this is just one time a season!"'

Strictly Come Dancing's launch show airs on BBC One at 6:50pm on Saturday night.  

Loving London: The singer explained that she felt the British version of the show over the American spin off Dancing With the Stars, was the right place for her