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How Fake Heiress Anna Delvey Is Competing on Dancing With the Stars Amid ICE Restrictions

Inventing Anna subject Anna Delvey will be competing on Dancing With the Stars season 33 amid her house arrest. Here's how the New York-based fake heiress is able to film in Los Angeles.

By Gabrielle Chung Sep 04, 2024 2:59 PM
| Updated Sep 04, 2024 4:18 PM
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Watch: Anna Delvey Says She’s Most Nervous About “Bad Outfits” While Competing on 'Dancing With the Stars'

Anna Delvey may have just invented a new way to compete on Dancing With the Stars.

The Inventing Anna subject—who was convicted of larceny after allegedly posing as a German heiress and scamming thousands of dollars from New York's elites to fund her luxurious lifestyle—has been partnered up with pro dancer Ezra Sosa on season 33 of the ABC dance competition. The network announced her casting Sept. 4, teasing the debut of the “notorious ankle bracelet fashionista” on the Sept. 17 premiere. 

And though Anna was recently on house arrest at her Manhattan apartment for overstaying her visa, she will still be able to compete in-person as the upcoming season films in Los Angeles. 

As she revealed to E! News in an exclusive interview, "I’ve been waiting to get permission from ICE to travel out of state," but noted that she still has travel restrictions otherwise. (For more with Anna, tune into E! News tonight Sept. 4 at 11 p.m.)

But this is not Anna's first foray into reality TV since her 2022 prison release. Last month, she made a cheeky cameo in a promo for USA Network's strategic competition series The Anonymous.

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Fake Heiress Anna Delvey Shares Devious Message as She Plots Social Media Return

"I might know a thing or two about deception," she quipped in the teaser, flashing her court-ordered ankle monitoring device as she sat in her home. "Never be afraid to dress up your look—or the truth. Trust me, I'd never lie to you."

In another promo, the convicted fraudster advised contestants that "gaslighting can be a great way to get ahead."

"Not that I've ever done it," she joked. "Is it emotionally manipulative? Of course!"

Janet Mayer/Shutterstock

Anna was first arrested on larceny charges in 2017. She was sentenced to four to 12 years in prison—which included time she spent behind bars before her trial—shortly after she was convicted in 2019. 

The socialite was initially released on parole in 2021, but was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Custody (ICE) that same year amid possible deportation proceedings. She spent another year behind bars—during which she even managed to throw an art show for her prison sketches—before she was released on house arrest.

"I've had a great journey," Anna told E! News in December 2022 following her release. "So, this is kind of like the next chapter."

—Reporting by Nikaline McCarley

Keep reading for a closer look at the season 33 cast.

Anna Delvey 

The inspriation behind Inventing Anna traded her ankle bracelet for dancing shoes alongside partner Ezra Sosa. However, the fake heiress was eliminated during the season's Sept. 24 episode, with her saying that she learned "nothing" in her now-infamous, one-word farewell speech.

Ilona Maher

The Olympic rugby player was ready to ruck up the dance floor with pro Alan Bersten, finishing as the runner-up.

Chandler Kinney 

The Disney Channel star tried to dance her way to the top with partner Brandon Armstrong and ultimately placed third.

Brooks Nader 

The model and her partner Gleb Savchenko were ready to strut along the ballroom, but took their final bow on Oct. 15.

Reginald VelJohnson

All that mattered for the Family Matters alum and partner Emma Slater was taking home the Mirrorball Trophy. However, their journey was cut short during the second week of competition on Oct. 8.

Eric Roberts 

The Dark Knight star was partnered with Britt Stewart. They were eliminated in the second week alongside Reginald and Emma.

Joey Graziadei

The Bachelor alum has found his rose between thorns in partner Jenna Johnson, winning season 33.

Tori Spelling 

The alum of Beverly Hills, 90210 was oh so ready to dance alongside Pasha Pashkov. Unfortunately, the two last only one week and was cut from competition in a double elimination alongside Anna and Ezra.

Danny Amendola 

The NFL pro and partner Witney Carson sure scored a touchdown on the dance floor, placing fifth in the finale.

Dwight Howard 

The NBA star hoped to stand head and shoulders above the competition with partner Daniella Karagach, but was eliminated from the competition on Nov. 12.

Stephen Nedoroscik 

The Olympian had his sights set on another medal—or should we say, Mirrorball Trophy—with partner Rylee Arnold, placing fourth in the Nov. 26 finale.

Phaedra Parks 

The Traitors alum was sure to weed out the competition with partner Val Chmerkovskiy, but ended up getting cut from the lineup Oct. 22.

Jenn Tran

Though Bachelorette star and partner Sasha Farber were full bloom in the ballroom, they were eliminated from the competition on Oct. 29.

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