‘Fake heiress’ Anna Sorokin debuts bedazzled ankle monitor on ‘Dancing With the Stars’

Anna Sorokin, the "fake heiress," performs with dance pro Ezra Sosa on "Dancing With the Stars" while showcasing her sparkling ankle monitor, a required accessory for her legal conditions.

Anna Sorokin, known for her role as the so-called "fake heiress" who swindled banks and high-end hotels, has made headlines once again—this time on the dancefloor. 

During the premiere of "Dancing With the Stars," Sorokin took to the stage sporting a very sparkly ankle monitor, a reminder of her criminal past. Sorokin, who falsely claimed to be a wealthy German heiress under the name Anna Delvey, performed a routine with dance pro Ezra Sosa to Sabrina Carpenter's "Espresso."

Why is Anna Sorokin on "Dancing With the Stars"?

Anna Sorokin’s introduction on "Dancing With the Stars" appears to be a part of her effort to rebrand herself following her high-profile fraud conviction in 2019. Last year, Sorokin started a podcast called "The Anna Delvey Show." 

RELATED: Fake heiress Anna 'Delvey' Sorokin launches podcast while under house arrest

How did Sorokin's legal troubles lead her to this point?

Sorokin gained notoriety after defrauding friends, hotels, and banks out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, all while pretending to be an affluent heiress. Her story later became the inspiration for the Netflix series "Inventing Anna." Though she was released from prison in 2021, Sorokin found herself in ICE custody for overstaying her visa. She now remains under house arrest in New York while fighting deportation to Germany.

Her appearance on "Dancing With the Stars" marks a new chapter in her public life, as she continues to make attempts to redeem herself public image. Speaking on her dancing debut she acknowledged her criminal past, while also expressing a desire for viewers to give her a second chance: "I served my time and I repaid my restitution," she told The Associated Press.

The Source:
This article is based on reporting from The Associated Press, including interviews conducted with Anna Sorokin after her "Dancing With the Stars" premiere. Additional details about Sorokin's legal history and release conditions were sourced from public records and previously published news reports on her case.