Tori SpellingTravel on Dancing with the stars ended early, but she is still “grateful” for the experience.
Spelling, 51, and professional partner Pasha Pashkov spoke with We weekly exclusively following her exit on Tuesday, September 24. “It was truly an incredible journey and experience,” Spelling gushed. “Obviously, it felt like I was just getting started and I noticed such a huge change in myself, physically and mentally (and) emotionally. Of course, I wanted to move on, but I’m grateful that I did.”
Pashkov, 38, admitted that DWTS is “the most unpredictable show,” with no guarantee as to who will survive from week to week. “You never know what’s going to happen. You never know who’s going to go home, who’s going to win at the end of the day. And that’s the beauty of the show,” he said Us“Sometimes it’s not pleasant when you’re eliminated, but at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about and that’s why it’s so exciting to watch the show and participate because you really don’t know.”
No couples were eliminated at the premiere on September 17, meaning two couples were sent home on Tuesday after their performances on Oscar night. Spelling and Pashkov danced a rumba to “This Is Me” by The greatest showmana film that Spelling said holds a special place in her heart.
“It’s our favorite movie as a family,” she explained in the introductory packet before entering the ballroom. “When one of us is going through a tough time, putting this movie on helps us.”
The duo ultimately received 19 out of 30 from the judges, but Spelling had another panel of judges she wanted to impress. Her children – Liam, 17, Stella, 16, Hattie, 12, Finn, 12, and Beau, 7, whom she shares with her ex Dean McDermott – cheered them on from the audience.
“In both weeks, the most important thing for me was to have all five of my children here in the audience, because they obviously made this journey with me,” said the actress Us on Tuesday. “And they were scared with me when I went in there. Like, ‘Are you going to get hurt? Are you going to be scared? Are you going to make it? Oh my God, what’s going to happen?'”
Spelling added that she was glad her children saw her “face her fears” during her time on the dance competition. “I came home every day a better version of myself and a better mother because… I felt so much personal growth and happiness and unlocking things,” she continued. “I thought, ‘Oh my God, I haven’t felt this happy in so long for something that I’m doing for myself.’ Because I think I gave up a big part of myself somewhere along this journey called life and now I’ve found that again, so I’m going to continue to be myself.”
Although she and Pashkov will no longer be in the rehearsal studio together this season, Spelling said she will continue dancing “1,000 percent.” “I don’t know what that looks like, but I would love to (continue),” she noted. “I found something that I really enjoy and I realized I’m good at it. … I’m proud of myself.”
As for her connection to Pashkov, Spelling confirmed that she “trusted him completely” throughout the process, which was not typical of her.
“I didn’t know anything about him before,” she said Us“I mean, of course I watch the show every season. I see what I see on TV, and my friends really thought Pasha would be the perfect partner for me, so I was thrilled when I got him. But I didn’t know we would build such a deep connection so quickly.”
Many Dancing With the Stars contestants have such a palpable connection on the dance floor that fans are starting to speculate whether those bonds exist in real life as well. “We really get along and have great chemistry, which made this dance so much easier,” Emma Slater told Us Weekly in September 2022 after DWTS host Alfonso (…)
The same was true for Pashkov. “I actually didn’t know anything about (her). For me, everything I learned about Tori was new, you know, but what was very interesting is that Tori… is a very artistic and creative person,” he explained. “So it was like we almost developed a new language, (a new) communication in learning the dance.”
Together with Spelling and Pashkov Anna Delvey and per Ezra Sosa were eliminated on Tuesday. Despite her early exit from the competition, Spelling is celebrating her success with pride – and she hopes that Pashkov will remain a friend.
“You don’t realize what a personal and intimate experience it is when you put everything – your trust, your heart and soul and everything – into another person. Honestly, in the short time we’ve known each other, I don’t think anyone has ever understood me so quickly in my entire life… so stay in touch, bro,” she teased.
Dancing with the stars airs simultaneously on ABC and Disney+ on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. Episodes can be streamed the next day on Hulu and Disney+.
With reporting by Carly Konsker
