10 things you need to know about Strictly contestant Katie Piper

Ahead of her dancing debut here are 10 things you need to know about her.

- Piper, 34, is a former model who has done photoshoots that have appeared in national newspapers and men's magazine Maxim.

- Born in Andover in Hampshire, Piper came second in the Miss Winchester beauty pageant in 2006.

- Piper previously worked as a ring girl, appearing at the start of rounds in Mixed martial arts fights.

- Piper began her broadcasting career on digital programmes and small TV shopping channels.

- Piper has two daughters with her husband carpenter Richard Sutton. Their eldest child Belle is four-and-a-half and Penelope is seven months old.

- In March 2008, Piper was the victim of an acid attack in Golders Green in north west London. The assault was arranged by her former partner.

- After the attack, surgeons at a London hospital removed all the skin from Piper's face before rebuilding it with a skin substitute and a skin graft. The procedure was the first of its kind to be completed in a single operation.

- In 2009, Piper made a documentary that was shown on Channel 4 called Katie: My Beautiful Face, in order to raise awareness about the victims of acid attacks. The programme has been repeated several times and shown internationally. In 2010, it was nominated for a Bafta TV award.

- In 2009, Piper read Channel 4's alternative Christmas message. Her speech touched on her own experiences and encouraged people not to judge others by their appearance.

- Piper has presented three series of the TV show Bodyshockers, in which she visits people who are looking to reverse regrettable cosmetic surgery procedures and tattoos.