Dancing with the Stars likes to feature stars that you wouldn't expect to be able to dance all that well, but Paulina Porizkova, former supermodel, says you might not realize she's one of them.

"People look at me and see me as tall and thin and kind of elegant. I look like I should be able to dance. When they actually see me [dance] they're going to go, 'Huh? Why is she on the show?'"

Well, probably because being able to have a contestant who's a former supermodel is a guaranteed draw. But in fact, says Porizkova, her years of runway experience may be working against her in the competition.

"Have you seen models on the runway? They clomp like horses," she says, laughing about her rehearsals so far, in which partner Alec Mazo encouraged her to work on her posture. "In modeling, it's all about slouching."

Of first-season Dancing with the Stars winner Mazo, she says, "My poor partner, I feel bad for him. He's really good, and he's saddled with this older, unathletic chick."

Porizkova's only 41 – not exactly elderly. But, she says, she has "zero dancing experience in my life, let alone athletic experience."

Rehearsals are taking their toll already, as Porizkova says her feet are already blistered and "My butt felt much firmer when I came up the stairs, too."

Some of the other competitors in this season are true athletes - like boxer Laila Ali, and Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno. But can they dance?

Porizkova's going to do her best, though she doesn't seem to have set her sights all that high to begin with.

"My first goal is not to be the first one kicked off," she said.


-Mel, BuddyTV Staff Columnist