Photo Credit: Courtesy ABC

Week 2: There Are More Rhinestones and Bigger Hair Than I Ever Thought There Would Be!

The former Broadway star takes Us behind the scenes of the hit ABC show

SOMEBODY PINCH ME!
The costumes have even more rhinestones, the hair is bigger the make-up is more amazing [than I ever imagined]. My fake tan is darker and my shoes hurt more than I thought they would, but I’m loving ever second of this. Oh yeah, the dancing is awesome, too! I wasn’t expecting so much energy from the audience. Even though I have performed live before, the audience’s energy was amazingly overwhelming.

BEHIND THE SCENES BONDING
I love Marlee [Matlin] and we’re very close. I knew her before the show began. Cristian [de la Fuente] and I bonded when we were on Oprah; we both didn’t get to say a word, but had a blast being there. And after being interviewed by [former contestant] Mel B every night and watching her on Access Hollywood I have decided I want to be her new BFF!

WARDROBE WOES
This week, they put this corset in my dress to make you a little skinnier and I think it was too tight. I like the way my waist is and I want to leave it the way! I [told the wardrobe department] ‘thank you for the love and thank you for trying to make me skinny but I don’t need it anymore.’ I am going to stay away from the corsets for a while!

JUDGING THE JUDGES
Last week, Len said he was ‘bewitched’ by me so I will take that one! I still love him and want to bewitch him again but this time without the "hip hop." For the first vote off, I am going to dance my heart out and hope people vote. If not, then that what was meant to be so we are just going to have fun. If I get voted off, I still will have learned two cool dances and worn three amazing dresses. But I really hope I stay, to make Tony proud.

BY MARISSA JARET WINOKUR