The cast of Dancing with the Stars season 22 has been announced and the 12 new couples are all preparing to take the ballroom floor for the first time. But before the dancing begins, let’s take a deeper look into each of these stars.
Paige VanZant is a 21-year-old UFC fighter (though she’ll turn 22 less than a week after DWTS begins). Her partner, Mark Ballas, is accustomed to dancing with younger girls and has finished in the Top 4 eight different times over his previous 17 seasons.
Here are three things you should know about Jodie Paige VanZant.
She Comes from a Dance Family
Don’t let the fact that this girl can kick your ass fool you, she’s also a dancer. Growing up in Oregon, her parents owned a dance studio and she trained there for 13 years in ballet, jazz and hip-hop. It may not be ballroom, but it should still be a huge help in rehearsals.
She Was Almost on Another Reality Competition
In 2014, the 20th season of The Ultimate Fighter featured an all-female cast in a competition to determine the first female Starweight champion for the UFC. Paige was originally going to be one of the competitors, but since she was only 20 at the time, she was ineligible.
She Was in a Commercial
Prepare to giggle uncontrollably as you watch this tough UFC fighter starring in a Bissell mop commercial, amazed by her mom’s new mop and its cleaning abilities.
Dancing with the Stars season 22 premieres Monday, March 21 at 8pm on ABC.
(Image courtesy of ABC)
Senior Writer, BuddyTV
John watches nearly every show on TV, but he specializes in sci-fi/fantasy like The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural and True Blood. However, he can also be found writing about everything from Survivor and Glee to One Tree Hill and Smallville.
