'Dancing With the Stars' 2016: What Is Paige VanZant Hoping To 'Shed Light' On? [VIDEO]
Paige VanZant is looking to prove that women can be both strong and feminine on ABC's Dancing With the Stars.
VanZant is used to putting her body through the wringer as a UFC fighter. But now she's going through another strenuous process as a contestant on the next season of Dancing With the Stars.
The fighter spoke with the Los Angeles Times recently about her excitement over getting an offer to do the show.
"I'm really excited that they picked me to be on the show and it's an honor that they reached out to me," she said. "I kind of grew up in the [dance] studio because my mom owned [one] and I danced since I was little. I'm excited to see if I still have a little of that dance side left."
She is hoping to prove that women who fight are not just brutes.
"To shed light on women fighters in general, and show we are so much more than just what we show in the cage ... we are not these violent animals. We're people and we have so many other talents than just beating each other up," she explained. "I'm excited to show that woman can be strong and be feminine at the same time. People like watching me fight because I don't look like the typical fighter and people can relate to that. ... [They're] really surprised to see that women fighters are so technical and we leave everything out there."
VanZant also noted that "women are more emotional than men" although she thinks that will be an advantage going into Dancing With the Stars.
The fighter is partnered with Mark Ballas, who has won two seasons of the show in the past. Even more in VanZant's favor is that Ballas won with athletes—Kristi Yamaguchi in season 6 and Shawn Johnson in season 8. He has also made the finals numerous times over the years, so VanZant is likely in it to win it.
Dancing With the Stars season 22 premieres Monday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
