Anna Sorokin, Convicted Con Artist, Appears on "Dancing With the Stars" Wearing Glittery Ankle Monitor

Los Angeles — Anna Sorokin, the convicted con artist better known as the "fake heiress," made her debut on "Dancing With the Stars" on Tuesday night, hitting the dance floor with a glittering ankle monitor. Sorokin, who posed as a wealthy German socialite under the name Anna Delvey and was convicted of defrauding banks, hotels, and friends in 2019, embraced her monitoring device in the season premiere.

"It’s really not a big deal," Sorokin told the Associated Press after the show. "It’s light, and I asked them to make it tight so it doesn’t dangle." She and her dance partner, Ezra Sosa, performed a routine to Sabrina Carpenter’s "Espresso."

Sosa joked about the standout accessory, calling it "the real star of the show." He added, "It’s not heavy at all—it’s less than a pound."

Sorokin, now under house arrest, reflected on her performance, admitting it didn’t go exactly as she hoped. "I’m just relieved it’s over," she said. "I could’ve danced better, but it was still a great experience."

Hoping to move past her controversial past, Sorokin expressed a desire for a second chance. "I’ve served my time and repaid my restitution. I hope people will give me an opportunity to show what I can do," she said.

However, early reactions from fans were not kind, with "Anna Delvey's Lackluster DWTS Debut" trending on social media platform X.

Sorokin was released from prison in February 2021 but was soon detained by immigration officials for overstaying her visa. She spent over a year in ICE custody before being released under house arrest in October 2022 while fighting deportation to Germany. Special permissions had to be granted for her to travel from New York to Los Angeles for the show.