Bingle glad to be out of Clarke's "shadow"

Lara Bingle has revealed that she is "happier than ever".

The Australian swimwear model, who split from cricketer Michael Clarke last year after her involvement in a nude photograph scandal, said that she feels relieved that she doesn't have to live in his "shadow" anymore.

Bingle told The Sunday Telegraph: "I was in a relationship with another high-profile person and I feel I've come out of that shadow and am doing my own thing. I have never been this busy. I am happier than ever."

The star, who is currently taking part in Dancing With The Stars, also revealed that there is lots of hard work and beauty maintenance involved on the show.

A spokesperson for the show said that the celebrities taking part spend hours on teeth whitening, waxing, hair extensions and fake tans, but Bingle said that she "didn't get a fake tan" for last night's premiere because "less is more".

She recently admitted that she was very "nervous" about dancing in public but now says that she is "growing into her own".

Other stars taking part in the reality series include Home and Away star Dan Ewing, My Kitchen Rules judge Manu Feildel, sportsman Nathan Bracken and newsreader Samantha Armytage.