As an Oxford University maths graduate who has blonde hair and hails from Essex, Rachel Riley knows only too well what it’s like to be underestimated.
“When I was younger, people would be surprised when I said I was studying at Oxford,” she says. “I was known as a ‘blonde Essex Girl’ – but it’s not always a bad thing, because you can use it to your advantage and surprise people in a positive way. It says more about them for having those misconceptions in the first place.
“I think it’s really important to show you can be blonde, wear makeup and whatever clothes you want and also be a mathematician or scientist. You don’t have to fit an outdated stereotype.”
It’s a lesson that Countdown’s resident maths genius Rachel, 37, is keen to pass on to her daughters Maven, three, and 18monthold Noa, who she shares with husband Pasha Kovalev, 43, the Strictly Come Dancing pro she was paired with while competing on the show 10 years ago.

Here we sit down with Rachel to talk all about her career, life with Pasha and the kids as well as exciting plans for the future.

Read more from Rachel here:

Countdown’s Rachel Riley’s sexiest shoot EVER as she shows off her legs in a skintight bodysuit
https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/230...


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