"Dancing With the Stars" wasted no time diving into the drama with "Vanderpump Rules" personality and reality show contestant Ariana Madix.
During her first appearance on the reality ballroom competition in its premiere episode on Tuesday, Madix, aged 38, didn't engage in criticism. Instead, she made a bold statement with a spray tan.
Before her passionate tango performance, Madix discussed the scandal from "Vanderpump Rules" involving allegations of infidelity between her ex-partner of nine years, Tom Sandoval, and her former close friend, Raquel Leviss.
Madix reflected on the tumultuous year, saying, "My life has been a roller coaster in the last year. My partner of nine years and one of my best girlfriends were having an affair behind my back. And everybody got to watch it all play out and my life blow up on television. But this scandal does not define me."
When her dance partner, Pasha Pashkov, asked her why she chose to participate in "DWTS," Madix expressed her desire to stand independently because "feeling like you were a joke to your partner of nine years is devastating. But I want to show other women none of that stuff has to hold you back." She pledged to showcase "a more confident and vibrant version of myself. Because I don't need anybody else. I love me."
Madix then delivered a captivating tango performance to the tune of "Love Myself (Riddler Remix)” by Hailee Steinfeld, earning applause from the audience and praise from the judges.
Judge Bruno Tonioli exclaimed, "Ariana strikes back with a vengeance!" While fellow judge Carrie Ann Inaba was equally enthusiastic, stating, "Can I just say as a woman, 'Cheaters suck!' They suck. But you just showed every woman and every man who was watching how you handle a cheater. You come out here and turn it up!"
With the judges awarding Madix a score of 21 out of 30, she climbed to the upper ranks on the leaderboard and, when combined with viewer votes, secured her position for another week on the show.
"Veep" actor Matt Walsh and his professional partner Koko Iwasaki were eliminated after receiving low scores for their initial dance, a cha cha set to “Poison” by Bell Biv DeVoe.
Meanwhile, "Zoey 101" star Jamie Lynn Spears showcased a promising debut tango and an engaging performance, all without mentioning or featuring images of her older sister, Britney Spears. With her mother Lynne Spears in the audience, Jamie Lynn Spears, aged 32, acknowledged her ability to handle "tough love" coaching from her professional partner, Alan Bersten.