Chandler Kinney Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
Chandler Kinney is feeling the pressure heading into the Dancing With the Stars season 33 semifinals.
“I tend to be a little bit more on the anxious side these days,” Kinney exclusively told Us Weekly at the EBONY Power 100 Gala on Sunday, November 17. “And so, finding moments just for myself, which is rare, I think that is the way that I can ground myself, just recenter, release. … Even if it’s, like, five seconds in my car [to] just breathe, look out the window, look at the trees — it’s the simple things.”
Kinney has been dominating the DWTS dance floor with her partner, Brandon Armstrong, since season 33 premiered in September. The two continued to sit at the top of the leaderboard during the show’s 500th episode special on Tuesday, November 12, by earning the first perfect scores of the season for their Argentine Tango and instant dance round Cha Cha.
The Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin alum told Us she’s learned a lot about throwing herself into something “wholeheartedly” and “confidently” even if you have to fake it until you make it.
Disney/Eric McCandless Dancing With the Stars celebrated some of the most iconic moments in the show’s history during the 500th episode. Celebrity contestants and their pro partners reimagined famous performances from past duos during the Tuesday, November 12, episode. Joey Graziadei chose to emulate one of his “favorite” DWTS moments: Riker Lynch and Allison Holker’s […]
“I think Brandon and I have had a lot of back and forth in the rehearsal studio because I like to fully understand what I’m doing before I really go for it, and he’s the opposite, like, ‘Go for it, and then you’ll understand,’” she explained. “I think that’s a beautiful lesson, not only just that [it] applies in the dance room, but also outside of it, in life”
Competing on DWTS has been a major source of joy for Kinney, as she told Us she would “love nothing more” than to continue dancing post-show. “It’s been such an honor and just an incredible experience getting to reignite my love of dance,” she gushed. “It was something that I did as a kid, and I left it behind once I started acting. … I think everybody’s seen that I have so much fun out there. It’s such a passion of mine, so I would love to continue dancing.”
Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong Disney/Eric McCandless
She went on to tease: “I don’t want to say too much, but yeah, I think that there will be opportunities to keep dancing, so I would love to do that.”
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Kinney also hinted that she’ll be sporting a “gorgeous” costume on an upcoming episode of DWTS. As for her favorite look of the season, she told Us: “I really did love Soul Train [Night] because I started in my little trackie, which I was so comfortable. I think I was the most comfortable that week. And then to lose the pants and have my little frilly skirt, I mean, come on! We love a tear-away.”
Dancing With the Stars airs simultaneously on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET and streams on Disney+ the next day.
With reporting by Mariel Turner