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    • The cast of season 33 of ‘DWTS’ includes Anna Delvey, Tori Spelling and Jenn Tran
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    The cast of season 33 of ‘DWTS’ includes Anna Delvey, Tori Spelling and Jenn Tran

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    Former “Beverly Hills, 90210” player Tori Spelling and Olympic rugby sensation Ilona Maher, the viral star who helped lead the U.S. women’s national team to a historic bronze medal at the Summer Olympics in Paris, are joining Season 33 of “Dancing With the Stars.”

    Spelling, 51, and Maher, 28, compete in the reality ballroom dance competition against a cast of celebrities, including “Bachelor” star Joey Graziadei, shell-shocked “Bachelorette” star Jenn Tran, former NBA star Dwight Howard, two-time Super Bowl-winning wide receiver Danny Amendola, Oscar-nominated actor Eric Roberts (brother of Julia and father of Emma) and “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Phaedra Creonta Parks.

    ABC also confirmed that convicted Manhattan con artist Anna Delvey, aka Anna Sorokin, the real-life subject of the Netflix series “Inventing Anna,” will also participate. Olympic gymnast Steve “The Pommel Horse Guy” Nedoroscik had already been announced as a contestant on the “DWTS” season, which premieres Sept. 17 (8 EDT/PDT).

    ‘Pommelpaardman’ Stephen Nedoroscik Joins ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Season 33

    American Olympic rugby star and TikTok sensation Ilona Maher aims for medal with ‘DWTS’

    What a month it’s been for Maher, who rose to superstardom during the games in Paris, playing for Team USA women’s rugby and documenting her life in viral TikTok videos (2.3 million followers). It’s a life that now includes posing as a Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model for the magazine’s September digital issue and joining “DWTS.”

    “It’s almost like this is a cool rite of passage,” Maher tells USA TODAY. “So many of my Olympic idols, ffrom Simone Biles to Suni Lee, did ‘Dancing.’ And it’s a new skill that takes me out of my comfort zone.”

    The athlete, who is paired with professional dancer Alan Bersten, admits that ballroom dancing on a national stage is daunting. Even the thought of the hours of training and live performances in front of an audience can be “overwhelming,” she says. Maher has no formal dance training and few of the required skills have been borrowed from hard-hitting rugby.

    “Rugby is a lot of just going all out and throwing your body at (your opponent). So we’ll see how I can move my body here,” Maher says. “And my dancing skills, I think, are not really up to par. My dancing-with-my-friends vibe skills are okay, my ballroom skills are zero. Hopefully, having fun-with-my-friends vibes can translate to this ballroom.”

    Maher is used to playing in sweat- and dirt-stained uniforms on the rugby field, but he’s especially excited about the extravagant “DWTS” outfits.

    “The glitz and the glam are such a big part of it, and I love getting dressed up,” Maher says. “It’ll be really fun to wear more sparkle and more sequins.”

    It’s been a ‘crazy journey’ to ‘DWTS’ for Tori Spelling

    Spelling turned down an offer to appear on the first season of “DWTS” in 2005. He has made a different decision every season since.

    “It’s been a crazy journey because for 32 seasons they made the decision and I said no,” Spelling said.

    Her reasoning was always an overwhelming fear of dancing on national TV, which was made worse when she was in the studio audience cheering on fellow “90210” alums Ian Ziering (season 4) and Jennie Garth (season 5). “Both experiences made me even more scared, and just seeing how hard it all was,” Spelling says.

    But after public health issues, financial troubles and an estrangement from her husband Dean McDermott, the mother of five says she wants a fresh start after turning 50 (she filed for divorce from McDermott in March).

    “They say after 50 is a second chapter of a new you. And my life this past year has definitely been a new me,” says Spelling. “Timing is everything. So when the call came this year, it was gut-check time. It still scares me. But I have to let go of that fear.”

    Spelling has had no formal dance training during her TV career, but often posts exuberant performances on TikTok. Another hindrance to “DWTS” may be a long-term avoidance of physical training.

    “I don’t exercise; I come here with zero physical exertion,” says Spelling. “I’m the girl who drives around the Target parking lot looking for the closest spot to the store. And yet I was out of breath from back-to-school shopping.”

    Spelling shared her fears and the secret of her “DWTS” casting with two friends, including “90210” alum Brian Austin Green, who appeared on Season 30 of “DWTS” with his life partner, professional dancer Sharna Burgess.

    “I explained my limitations to them,” Spelling says. “And they gave me some really good advice.”

    It was a useful reading, but not enough to convince Spelling to take home the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy after two rehearsals with her professional partner, Pasha Pashkov.

    “I just want to get through the first week, honestly,” Spelling says. “But I’m finding through this process that I’m really strong and competitive, especially with myself. I don’t give up. I’m a fighter. I push through, and I keep going.”

    Meet the Cast of the 2024 Season of ‘DWTS’

    ◾ Convicted Conwoman Anna Delvey With New Professional Dancer Ezra Sosa

    ◾ Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Brooks Nader with professional dancer Gleb Savchenko

    ◾ “ZOMBIE” actress Chandler Kinney with professional dancer Brandon Armstrong

    ◾ Former NFL player Danny Amendola and professional dancer Witney Carson

    ◾ Former NBA star Dwight Howard and professional dancer Daniella Karagach

    ◾ Actor Eric Roberts with professional dancer Britt Stewart

    ◾ Olympic rugby star Ilona Maher with professional dancer Alan Bersten

    ◾ “The Bachelor” Joey Graziadel and professional dancer Jenna Johnson

    ◾ “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Phaedra Parks with professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy

    ◾ Actor Reginald VelJohnson with professional dancer Emma Slater

    ◾ Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik with professional dancer Rylee Arnold

    ◾ Actress Tori Spelling with professional dancer Pasha Pashkov

    ◾ “The Bachelorette” Jenn Tran with professional partner Sasha Farber

    Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough return as the “DWTS” judges, while Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough serve as hosts.

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