Karen Byrne has said having chaperones in the rehearsal rooms for Strictly Come Dancing is "ridiculous" and she doesn't need anyone minding her on RTÉ's Dancing with the Stars.
The BBC talent show introduced new duty-of-care measures after allegations were made against pro dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano di Prima by their former celeb partners.
Karen is set to return to cast of Dancing with the Stars for season eight after Christmas in a bid to claim the glitterball for a record third time.
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Karen told RSVP Live: "I think all of that is ridiculous, to be honest. Everyone should respect each other no matter what environment or job you are in.
"I don’t need anyone minding me in a room. I know how to behave as an adult and I think everyone should be the same."
Karen has always felt comfortable on her seven seasons of Dancing with the Stars.
She said: "I have never had any issues. I am still in touch with all of my partners, so that’s a good sign."
Over the years Dancing with the Stars have changed up their pro line-up with the likes of John Nolan, Ryan McShane, Michael Danilczuk, Emily Barker and Pasquale La Rocca leaving the famous ballroom.
Karen said: "If they don’t ask you back, they don’t. What’s the point in worrying about it?
"I wait for the call and if they ask me, happy days. If not, I have my own dance studio and I work full time, so I am not sitting by the phone eagerly waiting.
"I love the show and I always hope they have me back. I keep thinking ‘God, they should change me up’."
Karen is the most successful pro dancer from the show, winning the show on two occasions, once with her now boyfriend Jake Carter and again last year with Paralympian Jason Smyth.
She said: "I never thought I would win a second time, so I am going for my third win this time. Wouldn’t that be great?
"I would love to be able to win it a third time. That is very greedy of me, but I am very competitive and I am not going to change."
Karen loves getting a challenge from her star partner, and she has no idea who she will be paired with in the New Year.
She said: "I haven’t thought that far ahead. I am not fussy.
"I got Jason last year and I never thought we were going to make it as far as we did. I love that we went and won it.
"I love a challenge, so no matter who it is, a challenge is always good."
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