I was the underdog: Cosentino
He's the self-proclaimed anti-boy next door who has risen to showbiz hot property - and grand illusionist Cosentino says his Dancing with the Stars victory is for all the other underdogs and outcasts out there.
The 30-year-old won a tightly fought battle against fellow competitors Rhiannon Fish and Tina Arena to take out the Seven contest on Tuesday night after soldiering through a jam-packed schedule which saw him tour the country with his stage show in- between episodes and temporarily lose his professional partner Jessica Raffa to a back injury several weeks ago.
Speaking to Access All Areas from Melbourne after his win, Cosentino said he was floored by the amount of love he had received from viewers throughout the series.
"It goes beyond tricks," the magician said.
"It goes to the fact that people at one moment or another have felt like they are the outcast. Even on Dancing with the Stars I was the underdog. Jess almost broke her back and all the odds were stacked against us, including the bookie odds.
"When we took out the title it showed that Australians love the underdog and they love something different."
And though Cosentino was often the recipient of veteran judge Todd McKenney's biting criticism, he said the two had parted with a mutual respect.
"The judges didn't give me an easy ride at all, if anything it was swung in other people's favour - let's be honest," the former Australia's Got Talent finalist said.
"But I had (new judge) *Adam Garcia *on my side and the viewers and Todd as well in the end. How fantastic."
The win caps off a big year for Cosentino who, in addition to his sold-out stage shows, high-rating TV specials and a newly released magic kit, was this week announced as the International Magician of the Year at the "magic Oscars", the Merlin Awards.
The ever-humble Victorian said he was still soaking in his second win of the week.
"Oh my gosh, that is the biggest award in our industry," Cosentino said.
"It is showing Australia that we are on a world level here and we can really take the world by storm from a magic perspective. That is my goal now, to make Australians proud of me as an international magician."
After a well-deserved break over Christmas, Cosentino will take his The Magic, The Mystery, The Madness tour to New Zealand and said he was looking to incorporate more dancing into his performances.
