‘It traumatised me' says Irish star on ‘toxic' experience on TV show that left her unable to wear shorts for 15 years

The Irish Sun

20-05-2025

IRISH actress Diona Doherty has opened up on her "toxic" experience on a very popular TV show that left her unable to wear shorts for over a decade.
The 36-year-old is well known for her hilarious role as the Ukrainian student Katya in Derry Girls but her showbiz career started long before her Channel 4 appearance.
4
Diona appeared on Ireland AM this morning
4
Diona spoke about her experience on a 'toxic' TV show
4
Diona competed in Britain & Irelands Next Top Model Series 8
Credit: Sky Living
Diona was a contestant on series eight of Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model in 2012 before being sent packing by judge Elle Macpherson.
The Derry beauty spoke about the less-than-ideal experience she had on the show while on Ireland AM this morning.
She said: "I mean, it wasn't great, if I'm being honest Those shows are very toxic. All those makeover TV shows that we had years ago.
"When you're on that as a young woman I think you think, 'Oh my goodness, this is my ticket to the fashion industry, it's going to be so exciting afterwards'. And it's very clear that they're making a TV show and it's there for entertainment purposes."
read more on derry girls
Host Alan Hughes remarked: "I think there's more duty of care now than there was then."
Diona replied: "Absolutely, and I think that It's a sign of the times. I think that's just the way TV was back then."
She spoke about how one of the judge's comments gave her a "lifelong complex".
Diona explained: "When I was on that show, comments were made to me by the judges that I only looked good from the waist up and it traumatised me as a 21-year-old.
read more on the irish sun
"And I never wore shorts or a skirt or anything since."
The Irish star bought her first pair of shorts and wore her bare legs out for the first time in 15 years last week.
Muireann O'Connell replied: "On national television, they did that to you. Get the shorts out.
"I can't wait until you invite Elle 'the Body' McPherson on your podcast And go for it, as to what happened to you with that."
Diona also spoke about the hilarious irony that she's a Derry native yet couldn't use her accent for Derry Girls as she played a Ukranian.
She said: "Isn't this what's the funny thing about acting? People say to me all the time, 'You don't sound from Derry in Derry Girls, that's so weird'.
"But I auditioned for the Ukrainian part. That's what happened."
"Funnily enough I remember being on a train from like Derry to Belfast. I think it was just after Derry Girls had come out and a man came over to me and went, 'Do you need directions?', and I was like, 'I'm from here!'
"I was like, 'Well done on the accent'."
Girls Aloud star Nadine Coyle recently spoke about Nicola Coughlan basing her accent on hers.
Diona remarked: "Did you see the shade? Oh my god. I was like, 'Nadine that's not how we behave in Derry'.
"She said she watched videos of me to try and do the Derry accent but I think she should have watched some more."
However Diona did admit that she "loves" Nadine and used to pretend they knew each other as they went to the same school - just five years a part.
4
Diona starred as Katya on Derry Girls
Credit: Channel 4