Ariana Madix wowed the judges with her ‘red hot’ dancing skills during Tuesday’s two-hour season 32 premiere of Dancing With The Stars on ABC.
The 38-year-old Vanderpump Rules star and pro partner Pasha Pashkov were the last performers and she danced the tango to Hailee Seinfeld’s song Love Myself in a red hot dress similar to the revenge outfit she wore on the show’s reunion.
‘My life has been a roller coaster in the last year,’ Adriana said in a confessional. ‘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. So now I just want to do something for me that’s fun and positive.’
‘Feeling like you were a joke to your partner of nine years and your best friend is devastating, but I want to show other women none of that stuff has to hold you back,’ Ariana said.
Ariana was referencing her ex-boyfriend Tom Sandoval and former friend Raquel Leviss who engaged in a months-long affair that she learned about in March.
Season premiere: Ariana Madix wowed the judges with her ‘red hot’ dancing skills during Tuesday’s two-hour season 32 premiere of Dancing With The Stars on ABC
When they finished, the judges gushed about Ariana’s performance.
‘Ariana that was fantastic, especially for a first dance,’ Derek Hough, 38, said. ‘Honestly, that was killer.’
‘Ariana strikes back with a vengeance that was red hot,’ Bruno Tonioli, 67, said. ‘What a performance!’
‘Can I just say as a woman that cheaters suck. They suck,’ Carrie Ann Inaba, 55, said. ‘But you just showed every woman, every man, anybody who is watching how you handle a cheater. You come out here and you turn it up.’
Ariana was supported during the live show by her Vanderpump Rules co-star Scheana Shay, 38.
The judges gave them a score of 21 out of 30.
Veep comedic actor Matt Walsh, 37, who partnered with Koko Iwasaki received the lowest combined scores and was eliminated. Matt hoped he would not be the first person to be sent home, but Carrie Ann told him that his dancing needed work. He only received a 12 out of 30 score from the judges.
The show also paid tribute to longtime judge Len Goodman who died in April at age 78 by renaming and redesigning the Mirrorball Trophy as the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.
Red hot: The 38-year-old Vanderpump Rules star and pro partner Pasha Pashkov were the last performers and she danced the tango to Hailee Seinfeld’s song Love Myself in a red hot dress similar to the revenge outfit she wore on the show’s reunion
Tango time: The Vanderpump Rules star impressed with her strong tango performance
Nice form: Ariana maintained nice form throughout her dance routine
Reality star: ‘My life has been a roller coaster in the last year,’ Adriana said in a confessional. ‘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. So now I just want to do something for me that’s fun and positive’
Showing support: Ariana was supported during the live show by her Vanderpump Rules co-star Scheana Shay, 38
Disney star Xochitl Gomez, 17, and pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy were the first couple to perform. They danced a cha-cha-cha wearing a two-piece fringed outfit. In practice, Xochitl said she mainly did TikTok dances and was looking forward to learning more about dance.
‘This girl has the It factor,’ Carrie Ann said. ‘Excellent way to start the season.’
The judges gave them a score of 18 out of 30.
Brady Bunch star Barry Williams, 68, and pro partner Peta Murgatroyd danced the toxtrot to the Brady Bunch original song It’s A Sunshine Day. Barry said in rehearsals that dancing on the show had been on his bucket list and that he had always wanted to learn ballroom dance.
‘I’m kind of in shock that it was so effortless,’ Derek said. ‘That was so fun to watch.’
The judges gave them a 16 out of 30.
Tyson Beckford, 52, and pro partner Jenna Johnson danced the cha-cha-cha to the Luther Vandross song Never Too Much.
‘I see a lot of potential so stick with it,’ Carrie Ann said.
Trophy tribute: The show also paid tribute to longtime judge Len Goodman who died in April at age 78 by renaming and redesigning the Mirrorball Trophy as the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy
The judges: Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli were back as judges
New role: Julianne Hough returned to DWTS as a co-host
The host: Alfonso Ribeiro co-hosted the 2 1/2-hour season premiere with Julianne
First up: Disney star Xochitl Gomez, 17, and pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy were the first couple to perform
Sunshine song: Brady Bunch star Barry Williams, 68, and pro partner Peta Murgatroyd danced the toxtrot to the Brady Bunch original song It’s A Sunshine Day
Good effort: Tyson Beckford, 52, and pro partner Jenna Johnson danced the cha-cha-cha to the Luther Vandross song Never Too Much
The judge gave them a 12 out of 30.
Alyson Hannigan, 49, was paired with Sasha Farber and they danced a salsa to Pink’s song Never Going To Not Dance Again. Alyson was nervous when she started because she had no dancing experience. They hugged when they finished and the audience gave them a standing ovation.
‘I absolutely love you, you had so much joy,’ Derek said. ‘Your facial expressions were a ten, the dancing needs some work.’
The judges gave them a 13 out of 30.
Harry Jowsey, 26, of the dating show Too Hot to Handle was paired with newcomer Rylee Arnold. He told her that he wanted to change his image but didn’t know how to dance.
‘The last time I tried to dance my friends thought I was having an allergic reaction,’ Harry said in rehearsals.
The two danced the cha-cha-cha to Justin Timberlake’s hit song Rock Your Body. Derek told him that he needed ‘some work.’ Bruno agreed that he needed to improve his technique.
‘As soon as he ripped off his shirt, you could tell that was your comfort zone, he became a different guy out there,’ Carrie Ann said. ‘Keep your shirt off.’
Salsa dance: Alyson Hannigan, 49, was paired with Sasha Farber and they danced a salsa to Pink’s song Never Going To Not Dance Again
Fun routine: They hugged when they finished and the audience gave them a standing ovation
Show newcomer: Harry Jowsey, 26, of the dating show Too Hot to Handle was paired with newcomer Rylee Arnold
Rocking it: The two danced the cha-cha-cha to Justin Timberlake’s hit song Rock Your Body
Shirt off: Rylee took his shirt off during their dance
The judge gave them a 12 out of 30.
Grammy winning singer Jason Mraz, 46, was paired with Daniella Karagach. Jason said in rehearsal that he never learned to dance. The two danced a cha-cha-cha to the Jason’s song I Feel Like Dancing.
‘So far that’s the best dance of the night,’ Carrie Ann said. ‘That was pretty amazing!’
The judges gave them 21 out of 30.
Britney Spears’ estranged sister, Jamie Lynn Spears, 33, was paired with Alan Bersten. Jamie Lynn said she came on the show to show her children ‘there was nothing more rewarding than being afraid to fail and doing it anyway.’ Jamie Lynn said she grew up doing traditional dance and cheerleading.
‘I got the point that I did not want to be seen dancing but now I’m here. I’m like let me bad at it, let me fail, let me just try,’ Jamie Lynn said
The two trained in Louisiana and Jamie Lynn said Alan said was tough.
‘But in my family we had a lot of tough love so I can take it,’ Jamie Lynn said.
Good score: Grammy winning singer Jason Mraz, 46, was paired with Daniella Karagach and they scored 21 points for their cha-cha-cha dance
Jamie Lynn, wearing a yellow one-shoulder dress, and Alan danced the tango to Mabel’s song Don’t Call Me Up. Her mother Lynne Spears, 68, was in the audience with her family cheering her on.
‘I think you are better than you believe you are,’ Derek said. ‘You actually have a lot of natural ability in there. A lot of potential.’
‘Darling, there were a lot, a lot of mistakes, because you actually had a lot of content,’ Bruno said. ‘It was a very ambitious routine.’
The judges gave them a 15 out of 30.
Former Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, 38, was coupled with Britt Stewart. Adrian said he was doing the show for his family, including his newborn daughter. The two danced the salsa to Usher’s song Yeah! and Adrian during their performance easily lifted Britt and spun her in the air.
‘Great, great first dance,’ Derek said.
Carrie Ann told him he just needed to work on refining his moves.
Tango dance: Jamie Lynn Spears, wearing a yellow one-shoulder dress, and Alan Bersten danced the tango to Mabel’s song Don’t Call Me Up
In audience: Her mother Lynne Spears, 68, was in the audience with her family cheering her on
Vikings star: Former Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, 38, was coupled with Britt Stewart
The judges gave them 18 out of 30.
Social-media star Lele Pons, 27, was paired with Brandon Armstrong. Lele said she had been dancing ‘unprofessionally’ on TikTok. The two trained in Miami and she was stressed out that she wanted to put on a good show for her grandmother. Lele wore a two-piece red sequined dress and even broke a nail, as she danced the tango to a version of The Police’s song Roxanne. The crowd gave them a standing ovation.
‘She was on fire!’ Bruno said.
The judge gave them a score of 19 out of 30.
Oscar-winning actress Mira Sorvino, 55, known for the film Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, was paired with Gleb Savchenko and they danced the cha-cha-cha to Prince’s song Kiss.
‘You are a great dancer,’ Carrie Ann said.
The judges gave them a 17 out of 30.
Real estate mogul Mauricio Umansky, 53, husband of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Kyle Richards, was paired with Emma Slater and they performed a Jive dance together.
Roxanne tango: Social-media star Lele Pons, 27, was paired with Brandon Armstrong and they danced a tango to a version of Roxanne by The Police
Great dancer: Oscar-winning actress Mira Sorvino, 55, known for the film Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, was paired with Gleb Savchenko and they danced the cha-cha-cha to Prince’s song Kiss
Jive dance: Real estate mogul Mauricio Umansky, 53, husband of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Kyle Richards, was paired with Emma Slater and they performed a Jive dance together
‘I am married to Kyle Richards,’ Mauricio said. ‘We’ve been going through a rough year and I’m really hoping Dancing With The Stars is going to get my mind off of it and have some fun.’
Kyle and his children were in the audience cheering him on.
‘That reminded me of my dad dancing at my wedding,’ Derek said. ‘Don’t get it twisted, my dad was ripping it.’
The judges gave them a 15 out of 30.
The Bachelorette star Charity Lawson, 27, was paired with Artem Chigvintsev and they danced the tango to Rihanna’s song Only Girl (In The World). She wore her engagement ring from her fiancé Dotun Olubeko who watched her perform.
Rough year: ‘I am married to Kyle Richards,’ Mauricio said. ‘We’ve been going through a rough year and I’m really hoping Dancing With The Stars is going to get my mind off of it and have some fun’
Cheering on: Kyle and his children were in the audience cheering him on
Bachelorette star: The Bachelorette star Charity Lawson, 27, was paired with Artem Chigvintsev and they danced the tango to Rihanna’s song Only Girl (In The World)
Strong dancer: Charity proved to be a talented dancer on the ballroom floor
Going strong: She wore her engagement ring from her fiancé Dotun Olubeko who watched her perform
‘That was a tango stunner,’ Bruno said. ‘A stellar performance.’
The judges gave them 22 out of 30, the highest score of the night.
Dancing With The Stars will return next Tuesday on ABC.
TikTok star Charli D’Amelio, 19, won season 31 of DWTS with pro partner Mark Ballas.
