Tag: Dancing With the Stars

  • Paige VanZant Fires Back at Critics Who Say She ‘Ruined’ Her Career

    Paige VanZant Fires Back at Critics Who Say She ‘Ruined’ Her Career

    Key Highlights

    • The former UFC competitor and Dancing With the Stars runner-up has publicly outlined a diverse post-MMA career portfolio.
    • Her professional activities since leaving the Octagon include bare-knuckle boxing, All Elite Wrestling (AEW), and Power Slap competition.
    • The athlete emphasized the breadth of her combat sports ventures, signaling a strategic expansion beyond traditional mixed martial arts.

    From Octagon to Ballroom to Bare Knuckles

    The former Ultimate Fighting Championship contender who captured national attention as a runner-up on Dancing With the Stars has reaffirmed the eclectic nature of her professional trajectory since departing the UFC. In a recent message to followers, the athlete detailed a career path that has traversed bare-knuckle boxing, professional wrestling with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), and the nascent Power Slap league. The update serves as a reminder that her competitive drive has not waned but rather diversified across distinct combat sports disciplines.

    A Career Defined by Cross-Discipline Competition

    Since exiting the UFC roster, the fighter has consistently pursued high-profile opportunities in alternative combat formats. Her foray into bare-knuckle boxing placed her in a raw, striking-only environment that contrasts sharply with the multidimensional demands of mixed martial arts. Simultaneously, her tenure with AEW demonstrated an ability to translate athletic credibility into the scripted, performance-heavy world of professional wrestling. This dual-track approach—legitimate prizefighting alongside sports entertainment—positions her as a rare hybrid talent in the modern combat sports landscape.

    Embracing the Spectacle of Power Slap and Professional Wrestling

    The inclusion of Power Slap in her recent career highlights underscores a willingness to engage with emerging, controversial, and highly viral combat properties. Backed by UFC leadership, Power Slap represents a specialized, strike-absorption format that has drawn both curiosity and criticism. By aligning with this league while maintaining a presence in AEW, the athlete continues to cultivate a personal brand that transcends any single organization or rule set. Her career narrative now reads as a case study in athlete agency, leveraging mainstream celebrity from Dancing With the Stars to secure roles across the combat sports spectrum.

    Why This Matters

    The trajectory of this Dancing With the Stars finalist reflects a broader shift in combat sports economics where athlete mobility between MMA, boxing, wrestling, and niche leagues like Power Slap is becoming a viable career strategy. Historically, fighters were largely tethered to a single promotion; today, the lines between legitimate competition and sports entertainment are increasingly porous. Her ability to secure contracts in bare-knuckle boxing (BKFC), a major wrestling promotion (AEW), and a power-slap league illustrates the growing market value of “crossover” stars who bring built-in audiences from reality television and social media. For the industry, this signals that promotional silos are eroding, creating a more fluid labor market for high-profile combat athletes.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Who is the athlete referenced in the update?

    The source identifies her as a former UFC fighter who achieved runner-up status on Dancing With the Stars. Her name is not specified in the provided RSS content.

    Which organizations has she competed for since leaving the UFC?

    According to the update, her post-UFC career includes bare-knuckle boxing, All Elite Wrestling (AEW), and Power Slap.

    What is Power Slap?

    Power Slap is a competitive league centered on open-hand striking exchanges, where participants take turns delivering and absorbing slaps. It operates as a distinct combat sport entity separate from MMA or boxing.

  • Giada De Laurentiis Reveals Gnarly Injury Before ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Premiere: ‘For sure gonna lose my toenail’

    Giada De Laurentiis Reveals Gnarly Injury Before ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Premiere: ‘For sure gonna lose my toenail’

    A Food Network personality has revealed a significant injury just days before her scheduled debut on ABC’s popular dancing competition series, raising questions about her ability to perform.

    Injury Revealed Ahead of Premiere

    The television chef shared a detailed look at what she described as a “nasty injury” with her social media followers, offering a close-up view of the physical setback. The timing is particularly critical, coming exactly one week before the new season of the hit ABC dancing show is set to begin.

    Competition Status Uncertain

    While the star has not officially announced a withdrawal, the severity of the injury so close to the premiere date casts doubt on her participation. The competition demands rigorous physical training and live performances, which could be compromised depending on the nature and recovery timeline of the injury.

    Fan Reaction and Show Implications

    Fans have flooded the comments with messages of concern and support, speculating on whether the contestant will be cleared by medical staff to take the dance floor. Producers have not yet released a statement regarding potential contingency plans, such as a delayed start or a replacement celebrity, should the injury prevent her from competing.

  • Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Judges and Hosts Revealed

    Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Judges and Hosts Revealed

    Dancing With the Stars is bringing back its familiar judging panel for season 35.

    Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli will all return as judges for the upcoming season of the dance competition series.

    Source: www.eonline.com

  • Dancing With the Stars: Next Pro Winner Revealed

    Dancing With the Stars: Next Pro Winner Revealed

    Dancing With the Stars has officially found its newest cast member.

    The ABC reality competition series’ search for a fresh face for its 35th season came to an end during the season-one finale of DWTS: The Next Pro.

    Source: www.eonline.com

  • ‘DWTS’ Gleb Savchenko Claims Ex’s Fiancé Sent Inappropriate Texts to His Daughter

    ‘DWTS’ Gleb Savchenko Claims Ex’s Fiancé Sent Inappropriate Texts to His Daughter

    At 8:28 PM PT, Elena told TMZ that Gleb’s claims were false and accused him of seeking publicity instead of addressing Olivia’s failure to return to Hong Kong on July 9. She said: “Instead of addressing the real issue, his failure to return Olivia to Hong Kong on July 9, Gleb is making absurd and completely false accusations for publicity. Neither I nor my fiancé sent the inappropriate…

    Source: www.tmz.com

  • Ciara Miller Reveals Her ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Must-Haves

    Ciara Miller Reveals Her ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Must-Haves

    Summer House Star Ciara Miller Shares Her Dancing with the Stars Rehearsal Essentials

    Talking Shop is our series where we talk to interesting people about their most interesting buys. Ciara Miller took the Hamptons by storm from the moment she joined the cast of Bravo’s Summer House. She held down the fort in Fiji while hosting Love Island: Aftersun and modeled in campaigns for some of the biggest brands in the world. Now, Miller is tackling a new challenge: competing for the Mirrorball Trophy on season 35 of Dancing with the Stars, which premiered at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+.

    Adjusting to Ballroom Dance

    “I’m definitely getting a run for my money,” says Miller, who told me that she’s wanted to do the show for years. “It’s such an experience for growth. I danced growing up, but I did ballet and hip hop and jazz and stuff. This is such a different sector of dance that I wanted to experience.”

    Miller’s partner this season is Brandon Armstrong, a multi-season DWTS pro. She says he’s been a great teacher and choreographer, but she’s putting her mark on performances, too. “Brandon is in charge of one thing: the dancing,” says Miller. “I’m in charge of everything else. We have creative calls where we can be as involved or not involved as we want, and I’m involved, even down to his outfits.”

    Before Miller’s first live performance, I talked to her about what she’s using to recover after hours-long rehearsals and products she swears by on the dance floor. And, of course, because she’s the first Summer House cast member to be in the ballroom, I had to ask: If she could cast any of her other housemates on Dancing with the Stars, who would it be?

    “Kyle [Cooke] would be number one on my Mount Rushmore,” says Miller. “I tried to teach him a pose, and I would really enjoy seeing Kyle attempting to learn any type of dance at all.”

    Arm Training with Bala Bangles

    One of the most useful purchases Miller has made during Dancing with the Stars rehearsals so far is Bala Bangles. “I just got these arm weights because a lot of my moves this first week are in frame, and my arms look like chicken wings instead of an elegant bird,” she says. “So I was like, okay, what can keep me mindful of keeping my arms up? These weights are how I’ve been training my arms.” She got a pink pair and tries to keep them on for the entirety of each practice session.

    Recovery Routine: Baths, Red Light Therapy, and Massages

    Miller isn’t shy about sharing what the hardest part about being on Dancing with the Stars is: “I am not flexible anymore, so I really have to stretch,” she says. “My back, my neck… I’m so sore everywhere.” She’s taking recovery very seriously, starting with hot baths. “I’m soaking in a bathtub almost every day for at least 20 minutes. It’s essential,” says Miller. “I’m living for Dr. Teal’s epsom salt. I’ve got the sleepytime one, I’ve got the one for muscle recovery; I’ve got all the things.”

    To continue winding down after her bath, Miller puts on her favorite red light therapy mask from CurrentBody. “It’s flexible, so it can fit into small spaces, and I didn’t have to worry about crushing it when I was traveling, which was nice,” she says, referring to her recent move from New York City to Los Angeles. “I use it to relax and treat my skin, and I’m incorporating getting massages, too, because I need to get better about recouping. But at home, it’s the simple things. I obviously love my bed, and I love a Salt & Stone candle — it’s one of my favorite things to have in my room.”

    Breaking in Dance Heels

    Miller isn’t just dancing for hours a day — she’s doing so while wearing heels. “You’ve got to break your shoes in and get used to them,” she says. “I’ve honestly been doing good so far and wearing socks with them. I’m the type of person where wearing a new shoe sometimes almost stresses me out, unless it’s for the look. But in this case, I knew I had to get acquainted with them early.”

    One of her go-to ways to care for achy feet is by using a foot spa. “I’m bringing back the pedicure bath things that I was like, I haven’t seen this thing in 20 years,” she says. “But I got one on Amazon, and I would say it’s one of my best purchases of 2026.”

    Fueling Rehearsals: Fruit Jerky and Celsius

    As for Miller’s favorite thing to nosh on pre-, post- and during rehearsal? “Fruit — I don’t like eating a heavy meal beforehand,” she says. “I love Solely fruit jerky. I swear by it and it helps spike my blood sugar if I’m feeling a little bit eh. It’s healthy and really great on the go.” There’s always Celsius in her refrigerator too, a brand she recently worked with to launch its Spritz Vibe beverage.

    Hair Care That Withstands Live TV

    Miller immediately stocked her DWTS trailer with Nexxus hair care when she got access to it. She’s been working with the brand throughout the year, and says its products continuously fit into different aspects of her life. “With Dancing with the Stars, we’re going to be in several different types of hairstyles, so you really need something that’s going to withstand the test of time from the wee hours of the morning to at night when we’re live on TV,” says Miller. “We all know I’m a glam girl — I love my glam, and obviously I’m going to be focused on it. But when it comes down to it, I need reliable products that I know are going to hold me through so my attention is on my dancing entirely.”

    Her favorite Nexxus product is the Air Shape Workable Hold Texture Spray. “I like volume. I like big hair. I want to pull it out and make it even bigger,” says Miller. “I’m a texture girl. And obviously I need a firm hairspray to hold it all in place, too.”

    Why Trust NBC Selected?

    I’m a reporter at NBC Selected who writes our Talking Shop series, interviewing people like Paris Hilton, Maureen Kelly, Lindsay Hubbard and Chase Crawford. To write this article, I talked to Summer House star Ciara Miller about the products she’s relying on while rehearsing for and competing in season 35 of Dancing with the Stars.

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