Unless you spend your entire day glued to your computer or TV, there is no way you can be familiar with all the celebs who will be gliding their way across the Season 16 Dancing with the Stars stage. They come from all aspects of fame — comedy, music, sports, reality TV and daytime drama. So if the cast has you a bit confused, meet this season’s dancing hopefuls…
Zendaya
This pretty young thing is best known for starring in Disney Channel’s Shake it Up. If you don’t have a youngster, or Disney Channel for that matter, she may not be a familiar face. But Zendaya has a bit of an advantage over her other competitors. She’s 16, so when she falls down, she can still get back up. She is already known for her ability to bust a move on Shake it Up. Regardless of how she dances in competition, Zendaya is rockin’ the one word name, which tends to be synonymous with super stardom (Cher, Madonna, Britney, Pink).
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Wynonna Judd
Wynonna Judd, country legend sister to Ashley Judd, has been Rockin’ with the Rhythm of the Rain since before Zendaya was born! Even those not familiar with country music have at least a nodding acquaintance with the woman who Rolling Stone describes as, “The greatest female country singer since Patsy Cline.” So the girl can sing. But can she dance? We can’t wait to find out!
Image courtesy Judy Eddy/WENN.com
Victor Ortiz
OK ladies, unless you have a man-friend who’s into boxing, you may have no idea who Victor Ortiz is. Ortiz is a Welterweight Boxing Champ, whose nickname inside the ring is “Vicious,” though outside the ring he is supposedly a big softy. Boxing requires a competitor to be light on his feet and to bob and weave. How will that translate to the dance floor? Will Victor be a knockout, in a good way?
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Lisa Vanderpump
Fans of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills are already cheering for Lisa, but if you’re not a Bravo watcher, you likely have no idea who this British beauty is. We guarantee you’ll soon grow fond of her endearing accent, her quick wit and her down-to-earth attitude. But don’t be fooled. Lisa’s also a tough and shrewd businesswoman. How will those instincts help her compete in DWTS?
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Kellie Pickler
This ain’t this country singing sensation’s first rodeo. Kellie Pickler has seen competition before as a contestant on Season 5 of American Idol. She knows how to perform under pressure and in front of a panel of judges. Kellie’s grandpa convinced her to give DWTS a try. If that ain’t country, we don’t know what is. Can Kellie transition from the microphone to strapping on her dance shoes? Her grandpa seems to think so.
Image courtesy Judy Eddy/WENN.com
Jacoby Jones
If you missed the Super Bowl where the Baltimore Ravens reigned supreme, then you may not be acquainted with this NFL player. Jacoby is known for his record-tying kick-off return, so the guy can stay on his feet. But there’s a difference between grace on the football field and grace on the dance floor. Will Jacoby look graceful or like a bull in a China shop? Only time (or the clock tattoo on his chest) will tell.
Ingo Rademacher
Gazoontite. That’s a mouthful right there and if you’re not a fan of daytime TV, you might be saying “Ingo who?” Once you see this handsome gent get his groove on, we have a feeling you’ll be saying his name with more regularity. Ingo plays Jasper “Jax” Jacks on General Hospital, but he’s also an accomplished athlete. He’s a skier, an equestrian, triathlon competitor, and most recently Ingo competed in a 32-mile paddleboard race. He’s used just about every muscle possible in competition, which could serve him well on DWTS. We wouldn’t want to compete against him!
Image courtesy George Brandon/WENN.com
Dorothy Hamill
If you weren’t alive in the ’70s, you may have no idea who this darling of the ice is. Dorothy Hamill became legendary for being a gold medal figure skater, and for her trademark hair. She was the “Rachel” of the ’70s. She now produces and stars in her own on-ice shows, but if the girl is that good on two blades of steel, we shudder to think what she can do on her feet when they are on solid ground. Gives us the chills!
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D.L. Hughley
D.L. Hughley is a Comedy Central staple and celebrity, known for his comedic documentaries and talk show. We’re given absolutely no information on D.L.’s athletic ability or his aptitude for dancing, but having a sense of humor can come in really handy when one is tackling a new challenge. It remains to be seen if D.L. can work any magic with his feet, but we should at least get a few laughs out of it.
Image courtesy WENN.com
Andy Dick
Oh, we love us some Dick — Andy Dick that is. This guy has been cracking us up for all the wrong reasons for years. Who knew he could dance? Maybe he can’t. But like funnyman D.L. Hughley, Andy is sure to pop off with his trademark snarky and inappropriate comments, making his dancing attempts entertaining for a different reason. See Dick crack jokes. See Dick dance. Thank you DWTS for bringing Dick back.
Image courtesy Alberto Reyes/WENN.com
Aly Raisman
This 18-year-old captained the 2011 U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Olympic Team and has been riding the wave ever since. She was named “Bostonian of the Year,” she’s been on Fashion Police and has been a presenter at the MTV Video Music Awards. Now she’s set to kick some butt on the DWTS stage. Can an 18-year-old gymnast dance? We’re not dance experts, but we’re guessing that’s a “yes.”
Image courtesy Brian To/WENN.com
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