Speaker 1: Hello everyone, and welcome back to you batch the Happy Hour.
Speaker 1: I'm Cheerity and I'm.
Speaker 2: Hosting from New York City today by myself without Rachel.
Speaker 2: But I am not alone because I am joined with
Speaker 2: the one and only Stephanie Sos from Dancing with the
Speaker 2: Stars Next Pro.
Speaker 1: Exciting, No, I am.
Speaker 2: I cannot believe like we made this happen. I'm so
Speaker 2: excited to chat. There's so much that we have to
Speaker 2: talk about because I remember the last time I think
Speaker 2: I saw you was actually Miami Swim Week.
Speaker 3: Yeah, no, it was, yes, and I.
Speaker 2: Couldnot I was like, oh my gosh, I didn't even
Speaker 2: know you were performing. You absolutely crushed that. And then
Speaker 2: I remember the last thing that you said to me.
Speaker 2: You were like, cause I knew you did next Dance
Speaker 2: with the Stars Next Pro. And I was like, oh
Speaker 2: my gosh, like how did it go? And You're like
Speaker 2: it went good, but like You're like, have my back.
Speaker 2: So that was the one thing that I remember. Yes,
Speaker 2: I was like I remember that, and I was like, okay,
Speaker 2: I know, I'm like gear up, I'm about to be
Speaker 2: in the comments. And so we will get into Next Pro.
Speaker 2: But I want to start take us back to.
Speaker 1: How was dancing. How was it? How did you get
Speaker 1: into it growing up in Utah?
Speaker 3: Yeah? So yah, my dance journey has been kind of insane.
Speaker 3: I started when I was seven, and then me and
Speaker 3: Ezure just kind of did it together and we've been
Speaker 3: training in every cell and then I left my studio
Speaker 3: when I was nineteen and started working professionally. But yeah,
Speaker 3: I'm training like basically everything. Yeah, like the ballroom, the
Speaker 3: hip hop, the jazz, contemporary, and yeah, I always knew
Speaker 3: I wanted to be a professional dancer. So it's like
Speaker 3: so cool that I'm like finally like living out like
Speaker 3: you know, living out that dream.
Speaker 1: Yeah.
Speaker 2: No, okay, So at what point did you realize that
Speaker 2: this could possibly turn into something bigger? It wasn't just
Speaker 2: like oh, this is like a fun hobby or an
Speaker 2: extracurricular activity. Like when did you have that realization, like, oh,
Speaker 2: I can actually make a career for myself.
Speaker 3: It's crazy because my dance studio, like so many amazing
Speaker 3: dancers came out of like that are like center stage
Speaker 3: performing arts. Yeah, and I think like around like thirteen,
Speaker 3: just seeing like Jenna and like Whitney Carson and like
Speaker 3: Derek and Julian just make a career for themselves, and
Speaker 3: I was like, wait, I'm from the same place as them,
Speaker 3: I'm getting the same training, Like I feel like I'm
Speaker 3: a little different Latina, Like I feel like I could
Speaker 3: do it. And I think ever since I was thirteen,
Speaker 3: my dream was always to be on Dancing with the Stars.
Speaker 3: So I think ever since just training in Utah, I
Speaker 3: just was like dreaming of moving La and doing the
Speaker 3: whole thing.
Speaker 1: So yeah, amazing.
Speaker 2: Okay, So how was growing up in Utah? Like, obviously
Speaker 2: like your Latina and we know Utah is like, you know,
Speaker 2: it's very conservative.
Speaker 1: It's this you know, blanket.
Speaker 2: Kind of image of like most people coming out of
Speaker 2: there like all look the same and they grow up Mormon,
Speaker 2: Like I know, you guys grew up Mormon, and Ezra
Speaker 2: talked about like leaving.
Speaker 1: The church, et cetera. So like, how was that experience
Speaker 1: for you guys?
Speaker 3: Yeah, it was definitely like hard, It was definitely I
Speaker 3: think I handled it. I think me and ez are
Speaker 3: like really alchemized it. And I think we wouldn't have
Speaker 3: been where we're at if we hadn't grown up in Utah.
Speaker 3: Like I do look back and I'm like, I am
Speaker 3: grateful that I did grow up in that environment just
Speaker 3: because it did make me who I am today. I
Speaker 3: wouldn't be as strong. I feel like I wouldn't have
Speaker 3: gone for my dreams. Like, but yeah, it was really hard,
Speaker 3: especially just growing up Mormon and you know, leaving the
Speaker 3: church and everything. But I feel like I'm like the
Speaker 3: happiest I've ever been. So I'm just like so grateful.
Speaker 2: I mean, I can tell me every time I see you,
Speaker 2: I'm like, you're obviously like the most stunning person, but
Speaker 2: I'm like, You're always glowing even more every time. So
Speaker 2: I genuinely like it's just it makes my heart happy
Speaker 2: to see like you crushing it.
Speaker 1: And obviously you know I love Ezra too.
Speaker 2: Yeah, you guys go away exactly exactly. So speaking of
Speaker 2: going way back, let's talk about your time on Dancing
Speaker 2: with the Stars.
Speaker 1: You obviously did true and that was an insane experience.
Speaker 1: How was that for you?
Speaker 3: That was crazy because it was like I felt like
Speaker 3: my dreams came true like that whole year, like Ezra
Speaker 3: being a prou I gone on troop, Like it was
Speaker 3: just like the best three months ever. And I was
Speaker 3: like telling Ezra and like another podcast, I was saying
Speaker 3: that when I was on Troop it was like the
Speaker 3: I never wasn't like nervous, Like it's so weird. Usually
Speaker 3: like I'm nervous, like nervous, Like I was like nervous,
Speaker 3: you know, but like for this, it just felt so right.
Speaker 3: So yeah, it was definitely amazing, And I learned so
Speaker 3: much about myself too, just like through that.
Speaker 2: Yeah, what was like some of those like I guess,
Speaker 2: challenges or things that you had to like work through
Speaker 2: or grow through with being on Troope.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think just like remembering that, like I do
Speaker 3: like belong there. Like I think it was hard to
Speaker 3: because I was like the first Latina and like I
Speaker 3: always told myself, I wanted to be the first Latina
Speaker 3: on Troupe and all that, and so when I was
Speaker 3: in that space, like I was just trying to like
Speaker 3: navigate myself and just like that like representing you know,
Speaker 3: my community correctly, and I just yeah, it was it
Speaker 3: was I learned a lot about myself, like even how
Speaker 3: to like style my hair on the show. Like that's
Speaker 3: something that I really wanted to like figure out. Yeah,
Speaker 3: because I you know, moving forward to whoever is like
Speaker 3: on the show, like I want them to have like
Speaker 3: a really easy experience and not have to feel like
Speaker 3: it's like the first for them.
Speaker 1: So yeah, that's so beautiful.
Speaker 2: And now I'm like I always remember like even as
Speaker 2: we literally like just his three makers, it's like kid no,
Speaker 2: and it really is. And it's like so beautiful that
Speaker 2: you guys obviously get to do like these experiences together,
Speaker 2: but also like you know, you have your career and
Speaker 2: Ezra has his, So how has that been like for
Speaker 2: you guys, like basically doing it together but also having
Speaker 2: your own lane and kind of like doing it side
Speaker 2: by side with each other.
Speaker 1: Yeah.
Speaker 3: I think growing up, we thought we'd be doing the
Speaker 3: exact same things. Yeah, So it's like crazy that like
Speaker 3: in like the most beautiful way, Like our careers have
Speaker 3: been like in and out, like we're together doing stuff
Speaker 3: and then we're not. And I think just through each
Speaker 3: experience we've grown yea, and like we're able to like
Speaker 3: teach each other as well, Like getting on Dancing with
Speaker 3: Stars Troop, Like my social media was like lacking a
Speaker 3: lot and he was like, okay, staff, so he helps
Speaker 3: me out. Yeah, he was like we're gonna post this,
Speaker 3: Like I was like okay, and then like emotionally if
Speaker 3: like I'm there for him with like different experiences and
Speaker 3: just helping him choreograph. So I feel like our I
Speaker 3: think our careers are meant to go in and out
Speaker 3: like the most beautiful way. At first, it was hard
Speaker 3: because it felt like we like we weren't doing exactly
Speaker 3: what we wanted. But that's life, like you never never
Speaker 3: goes as plan.
Speaker 1: But yes, okay, so let's talk. Obviously, you had your
Speaker 1: debut at the super.
Speaker 2: Bowl, and which was insane. I didn't even know obviously
Speaker 2: you're gonna do that until like you teased it a
Speaker 2: little bit.
Speaker 1: I was like, wait, stuff, it's going to be at
Speaker 1: the super Bowl.
Speaker 2: And then I'm like wait, putting two together, I'm like,
Speaker 2: you're about to be performing with Bad Bunny, which is crazy. Obviously,
Speaker 2: I'm like, I'm a big bat Bunny fan, gorgeous human.
Speaker 1: But I'm like you, you crushed it. So thank you.
Speaker 2: Tell me how that like came to be, Like how
Speaker 2: was that experience, because I have a lot of questions,
Speaker 2: So yeah, listeners, Yeah, it.
Speaker 3: Was crazy because I auditioned back in like October November time,
Speaker 3: and I didn't even know what I was auditioning for
Speaker 3: because basically my A league was yeah, like yeah, what
Speaker 3: like in the like whenever you're auditioning for like big opportunities,
Speaker 3: the agent doesn't really tell you what it's for just
Speaker 3: because of like confidentiality, Like, ok I don't tell you
Speaker 3: the data, won't disclose the artists. They'll just give you
Speaker 3: the dates and like what they're looking for. Okay, So
Speaker 3: like I'm at this audition, I want like I literally don't.
Speaker 3: I'm just lat They said Latin vibes were Latin outfit,
Speaker 3: just we're gonna be.
Speaker 1: Doing I got it. I was like oyeah, like you know,
Speaker 1: I'm like I'm just you know.
Speaker 3: So I went and then I'm in line and I
Speaker 3: heard people like being like it's for the super Bowl.
Speaker 3: And then I like looked in the email and I'm like,
Speaker 3: of course it's the dates of the super Bowl, Like
Speaker 3: I'm not I didn't even put you to tell, like
Speaker 3: I don't call football, like I didn't even and I
Speaker 3: was like, oh my gosh, like this is crazy. But yeah,
Speaker 3: there were so many girls at that audition. It was
Speaker 3: like definitely scary, but I'm just so happy that I
Speaker 3: did my best and I booked it.
Speaker 2: And I was like clearly I'm like, you did do
Speaker 2: your best, and so how does it feel?
Speaker 1: Like obviously, because that Super.
Speaker 2: Bowl performance I think was like it was for like
Speaker 2: the culture, but also it was just so much bigger
Speaker 2: and I think so many people like appreciated it, appreciated
Speaker 2: that the ones that did Yeah, but like how for you, Like,
Speaker 2: obviously that's huge for yourself and to be like somebody
Speaker 2: that selected to be a part of that, Like how
Speaker 2: did that feel for you?
Speaker 3: It felt so aligned, Like I feel like the universe
Speaker 3: like really wanted me a part of that. And I
Speaker 3: am just so grateful because like a lot of my career,
Speaker 3: I've been like one of the first Latinas in many spaces.
Speaker 3: So for the first time I was like around people
Speaker 3: that were like me, and it was just like it
Speaker 3: was so healing and I just like I remember after
Speaker 3: I like I performed, like I was like with all
Speaker 3: the dancers screaming backstage, We're all like sobbing her eyes out,
Speaker 3: and like people like call some dances would be like
Speaker 3: face himing their parents and Puerto Rico crying and crying
Speaker 3: on the phone. It was just like the like I
Speaker 3: think it was like the best thing I've like experienced
Speaker 3: and it was just so beautiful.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I love it.
Speaker 2: Did you I mean obviously you danced alongside him, but
Speaker 2: did you ever have like any like.
Speaker 1: Quality time or like one a one time? Was that funny?
Speaker 1: I'm like, I want to know.
Speaker 3: He very like had his security, Like he would like
Speaker 3: come over and like like stand by the Casito girls
Speaker 3: and just be like standing there.
Speaker 2: And we all just like I'm like, you guys are
Speaker 2: like we're just like that picture frame that.
Speaker 3: Frame, like I see it's coming around the corner, Like
Speaker 3: we're like just act natural or just like waiting to
Speaker 3: like for the music to start. He's like, hey, guys
Speaker 3: were like high like it was just like a Yeah.
Speaker 3: We also were told though, like not to talk to
Speaker 3: him unless we couldn't talk to you, okay, so just
Speaker 3: to like be respectful because there were so many dancers. Yeah,
Speaker 3: in that wherever we were rehearsing. So yeah, it was crazy.
Speaker 2: So how was it rehearsing like obviously gearing up to
Speaker 2: the Super Bowl?
Speaker 1: Like what was practice? Like how many rehearsals did you
Speaker 1: guys have if you can like share any of that.
Speaker 3: Yeah, So I when I got the call I they
Speaker 3: told me, didn't start to like uh, mid January, but
Speaker 3: there had been people rehearsing since December, like creating the
Speaker 3: different like numbers and stuff, okay, and so basically like
Speaker 3: I was Group B. So basically Group A had been
Speaker 3: rehearsing for like two weeks and then I got brought
Speaker 3: on a Group B and it was crazy. We rehearsed
Speaker 3: for a month and it took so long to finally
Speaker 3: create the tracks, the formations and like a lot of
Speaker 3: moving parts, like we changed choreography a lot. Yeah, I
Speaker 3: would like yeah, they would like record and then like
Speaker 3: go and they'd go through production and they would change things.
Speaker 3: But yeah, bad money didn't come into rehearsals till like
Speaker 3: the last week.
Speaker 1: Oh wow.
Speaker 3: Once the costumes were set, once our formations was set,
Speaker 3: everything was set, camera angles like figure we had so
Speaker 3: many camera rehearsals, yeah, because they had to get those
Speaker 3: shots perfect. And then he came in once everything was
Speaker 3: set and then we basically the last time.
Speaker 1: Yeah, well it's his thing, so like yeah, I have
Speaker 1: nothing to do.
Speaker 3: Yeah. Well, interesting thing is like they actually took our
Speaker 3: phones so like.
Speaker 2: During rehearsals, Yeah, you guys could get y'all have no footage.
Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, I mean that.
Speaker 3: Makes sense, but like wow, they wanted to keep it
Speaker 3: really secret and also just to like keep us all
Speaker 3: present in the process because you really had to pay attention.
Speaker 3: There were like things would be changing, like we'd be
Speaker 3: doing chroography. Okay, we're gonna change the whole thing now
Speaker 3: like five six, We're like okay, period, like we're just
Speaker 3: gonna keep going.
Speaker 1: Yeah.
Speaker 3: So yeah, it was. It was definitely so cool and
Speaker 3: for the first time in my life, like I felt
Speaker 3: like I was like back up my dance, so you
Speaker 3: kind of like like fully present in the work, no distractions,
Speaker 3: and like during lunch, we had to sit there and
Speaker 3: talk to each other. It was really really cool.
Speaker 1: I love that. I really do love it.
Speaker 2: It seems like it's very like immersive, Like you know,
Speaker 2: it's like you guys are locked in for quite literally
Speaker 2: a bigger reason. Were y'all rehearsing in La Yeah okay,
Speaker 2: And like we would go and like they we had
Speaker 2: to pretend like we weren't re hursiting there, so we'd
Speaker 2: go to lunch and people like were.
Speaker 1: You guys were actually so crazy?
Speaker 3: Yeah, so why dancers like wearing all because they were
Speaker 3: all black as well. For rehearsals, so like, so my
Speaker 3: dances coming out of a building and then like what
Speaker 3: are you rehearsing for? We're like, oh, I don't know,
Speaker 3: Like we just had to place so nice.
Speaker 1: Yeah, so just so crazy. And I do have like
Speaker 1: two more questions about the super Bowl.
Speaker 2: So obviously, like you guys did rehearsals all together, but
Speaker 2: on the day of the Super Bowl, like I we
Speaker 2: obviously saw the.
Speaker 1: Trees were like people, like how did that like work out?
Speaker 1: Did you guys have to go over?
Speaker 2: Like did y'all do formations like the day of or
Speaker 2: like a couple of days before, like what was their role?
Speaker 1: And like how did that work?
Speaker 3: I will say the tree people were my favorite, but
Speaker 3: they didn't come until like the last week too, but
Speaker 3: they had their own rehearsals, okay, So then when we
Speaker 3: were all together, it was so cute because they would
Speaker 3: do their like rock and everything, and then we'd be
Speaker 3: dancing'd be like whoa like for us?
Speaker 1: And yeah, guys, they were like oh.
Speaker 3: And like during like like breaks, we were in this
Speaker 3: huge arena, right and like all the dances were on
Speaker 3: this side arena, all the trees, and you just see
Speaker 3: all of these faces just sitting with the trees, just
Speaker 3: like this drinking water and we were dying and they
Speaker 3: were like digging waves and I was like, I was like,
Speaker 3: I would have loved to be.
Speaker 2: A trade I said, how do I sat up? I'm
Speaker 2: no professional, but like a tree sounds great.
Speaker 3: No, they were like our hype people the whole time
Speaker 3: and they were so cool.
Speaker 2: Okay, So and also my one last question about uh
Speaker 2: super Bowl. We obviously saw Alex Earl make a guess appearance.
Speaker 2: Was there any anybody else that was like celebrities that
Speaker 2: you got to meet during that process?
Speaker 1: Yeah?
Speaker 3: Well it's crazy because when we got cast in Casita,
Speaker 3: they said you'll beat celebrities. We didn't know who the
Speaker 3: celebrities were until literally five minutes of them like walking
Speaker 3: towards us, setting them in the Yes, So we were
Speaker 3: just like pretending to like.
Speaker 1: Know Alex was going to be there.
Speaker 3: No, I had no idea the rumor was because we
Speaker 3: were all like it's gonna be yeah, we like like
Speaker 3: probably Carol G or Becky g Like, we were like
Speaker 3: for sure. But I stood next to Jessica Alba and
Speaker 3: that was really cool because I am obsessed with her
Speaker 3: and Honey, Yeah, I was like like I didn't know
Speaker 3: how to Like, hey girl, She's like, when do we dance?
Speaker 3: Like you're gonna see them start walking? And I like
Speaker 3: told her exactly and then you're gonna start dancing. So
Speaker 3: she's like we're like pose and then I'm.
Speaker 1: Like she's like, when are your dance? When do we dance?
Speaker 1: Like now it was so good, Oh my god.
Speaker 2: I like an incredible experience, incredible opportunity. Do you feel
Speaker 2: like that's something you want to like keep doing like
Speaker 2: things like that, like performing for you know, singers or musicians,
Speaker 2: Like is that the lane that you want to kind
Speaker 2: of take?
Speaker 1: You know?
Speaker 3: I am open to anything at this point. I feel
Speaker 3: like my my journey has been very unexpected but beautiful
Speaker 3: and like the most like the best way. So I'm
Speaker 3: just kind of open to what I for the universe
Speaker 3: is get Like if I get called to do something,
Speaker 3: I'll do it. If I go an audition, I'm just
Speaker 3: gonna try to do everything that I can, every opportunity
Speaker 3: and just maximize it. And yeah, but I do I
Speaker 3: really do love hip hop?
Speaker 2: Yeah no, I'm like if you guys have never seen
Speaker 2: Stef dance hip hop, That's why I.
Speaker 1: Was like she's great in all areas.
Speaker 2: But I'm like, oh my god, like you really shine
Speaker 2: like shine and everything.
Speaker 1: But like I'm like, oh this girl hip hop is it?
Speaker 3: Yeah, So I'm like I'm just I'm gonna definitely take
Speaker 3: the next couple of months and like really train in
Speaker 3: every style that I can, especially I want to get
Speaker 3: back in my hip hop too, because I miss it.
Speaker 1: Yeah.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm like I for whatever reason, I'm like, you know,
Speaker 2: you are a star.
Speaker 1: But I'm like like music video, like video mix.
Speaker 3: It's crazy. She's doing random music videos like I did
Speaker 3: a Becky Do one recently, Like I just keep kidding.
Speaker 3: I'm like I did a Rosslich one. But when I
Speaker 3: first moved to LA and I was like the lead
Speaker 3: girl I can and then I did a music video
Speaker 3: randomly for Armacheck. He's like this huge Armenian artist.
Speaker 1: Okay, I don't I'm not familiar I.
Speaker 3: Either, and like I was the lead girl and I
Speaker 3: was like it was like a Latin number. And then
Speaker 3: I guess I got like two Milli muws on YouTube,
Speaker 3: so I'm like, I guess maybe that's my post.
Speaker 1: I don't know.
Speaker 2: I'm like, you do good at any and everything you
Speaker 2: do like seriously, but I'm like, yes, I would love
Speaker 2: to continue to see you shine in that area. Do
Speaker 2: you have any interest like in Broadway or like musical theater?
Speaker 1: Yeah, I do.
Speaker 3: I did. I did work, like dabbled my feet in
Speaker 3: it a little bit. I did like a pre like
Speaker 3: Broadway run of Take the Lead. So I was here
Speaker 3: for like three months.
Speaker 1: Yeah, okay, yes, yes, okay, So.
Speaker 3: I mean if that goes to Broadway, I'd love to
Speaker 3: be a part of it, like I would. You know,
Speaker 3: I'm kind of open to everything. I did used to
Speaker 3: sing when I was little too.
Speaker 1: Okay, so she's like triple threat but also.
Speaker 3: Like Ezra because the FANSO knows. But as we used
Speaker 3: to sing too, like we both used to sing.
Speaker 1: So like I'm like Ezra, like.
Speaker 2: Maybe you wait, I'm so sorry we have to pause
Speaker 2: for just I you're telling me news, and I'm like,
Speaker 2: I love your brother.
Speaker 1: Wait.
Speaker 3: We were in Greece, like and I we were like
Speaker 3: we had two rooms, like my mom and I were
Speaker 3: in a room as are like is amazing. He bought
Speaker 3: a whole trip anyway as in the other room, and
Speaker 3: like we can hear and then we just hear him
Speaker 3: singing in the shower and then I texted him, I'm like,
Speaker 3: come on, singer. He's like, shut up, but he's really good.
Speaker 1: Wait, this is crazy.
Speaker 2: I don't think that's like such a like hidden talent
Speaker 2: that I don't think anybody knows about. Kill me for
Speaker 2: saying that's okay, But I'm like, you told me first,
Speaker 2: but that is actually unbelievable.
Speaker 1: You guys should do. Have you heard of what's it called,
Speaker 1: like the Voice Celebrity. It's like a new like do
Speaker 1: you guys need to go on it?
Speaker 3: Oh no, I don't think we're like that, but if
Speaker 3: we train in like maybe like a year or two,
Speaker 3: i'd be I would love to do like Broadway, Like.
Speaker 1: Okay, wow, that is I'm like, this is breaking news.
Speaker 2: He's gonna kill me is okay. I'm like, as we
Speaker 2: love it, he love you so like this is yeah,
Speaker 2: this adds to the love. There's nothing wrong here. Wait
Speaker 2: I did not know that, and I'm genuinely shook in
Speaker 2: my boods right now? Yeahazy, okay, let's talk about next
Speaker 2: pro Dancing with the Stars. Obviously, congratulations on being castid
Speaker 2: and having that opportunity.
Speaker 1: Tell us what was that.
Speaker 2: Like when you found out that you were going to
Speaker 2: be on that show. Obviously you have had quite the
Speaker 2: journey within the Dancing with the Star's family.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I will. I remember getting the email to audition
Speaker 3: like in November. Yeah, and I thought it was a
Speaker 3: scam because it was like I'm like so confused. I'm
Speaker 3: like next pro Like, I don't know, you just sometimes
Speaker 3: see this weird like emails. So I like I called Ezra.
Speaker 3: I'm like is this real?
Speaker 1: Like is this like?
Speaker 3: And he was like let me see and he's like, oh, yeah,
Speaker 3: it's real. And I was like, why didn't you tell me?
Speaker 1: Ye? Did he not know? I don't know girl?
Speaker 3: And I was like okay, but yeah. And then I
Speaker 3: was like you know what, I'm just an audition and
Speaker 3: like see, so I just they had me send in
Speaker 3: like I did like interviews and like you know, they
Speaker 3: know me. So I just send them like all my
Speaker 3: dance stuff again like recent how to we refilmed things.
Speaker 3: And then I got the call when I was actually
Speaker 3: at Super Bowl rehearse like dir like I like ed rehearsals,
Speaker 3: walking out and then I got the call and I
Speaker 3: was like, wait, this is crazy. Yeah.
Speaker 2: I was like that is crazy, Like two big like
Speaker 2: opportunities happening almost at the same time.
Speaker 1: It's crazy.
Speaker 3: Yeah, and I my meeting like reaction was like fuck, yes, yeah,
Speaker 3: I'm doing this.
Speaker 1: Yeah.
Speaker 3: I was like, the universe want to put it in
Speaker 3: my path. I like wasn't meant, like, you know, if
Speaker 3: I wasn't meant to do it, and so I was like,
Speaker 3: I'm gonna go for one hundred percent. And I was like, hey,
Speaker 3: it's training mode. So I remember after that, I started
Speaker 3: scheduling like my privates and just like starting to like train.
Speaker 3: So after super Bowl, I'd like go to studio and
Speaker 3: like take lessons like tango and all of the things
Speaker 3: that I was like not the best at and just
Speaker 3: really just train and train. Because soon as super Bowl
Speaker 3: was done, I had a week and I was here
Speaker 3: and I saw you.
Speaker 1: Yeah.
Speaker 3: Yeah, we went to dinner with us. Yeah that's I
Speaker 3: was like when I saw you, and then from there
Speaker 3: I you.
Speaker 1: I remember you told me you were like I'm getting
Speaker 1: ready to leave, and I'm so anxious you were.
Speaker 2: I'm like we were literally running around like trying to
Speaker 2: grab stuff like shopping.
Speaker 1: But then I was like, wait, where are you going?
Speaker 1: But I didn't even I don't think I put.
Speaker 2: Together that it was for that. Yeah, oh my god,
Speaker 2: that was such a quick turnaround.
Speaker 1: Yeah. Wow.
Speaker 3: So then I like went right away and I flew
Speaker 3: to Australia and then yeah, I was there, so oh
Speaker 3: my gosh.
Speaker 2: I literally I'm like, I have so many questions. Okay,
Speaker 2: So the cast obviously is like I think you were
Speaker 2: the only one from Troop that was on there, and
Speaker 2: most of everyone else either has like a hit, like
Speaker 2: a history with like competition ballroom, or was from so
Speaker 2: you think you can dance? Yeah, So like did you
Speaker 2: know most of them or were they all like k
Speaker 2: new faces for you?
Speaker 3: I knew everybody except for Nina and aj okay, so basically, yeah,
Speaker 3: I knew everybody of Briar. Oh and Tristan I didn't
Speaker 3: know him before, okay, So yeah, yeah I knew literally
Speaker 3: every single person. But yeah, because like Eric was like
Speaker 3: a ballroom answer growing up. He was phenomenal. And then
Speaker 3: Briar everyone knows. So it's just like I knew like basically,
Speaker 3: and then Natalie I knew well as well because she
Speaker 3: actually did the off Broadway thing drop with me. Oh okay,
Speaker 3: and she's from my studio to kay, So I just
Speaker 3: like we all like knew each other. Yeah, it's crazy.
Speaker 1: Oh my god.
Speaker 2: I'm like I honestly really did enjoy the show, Like
Speaker 2: I enjoyed the format of and I was like, oh,
Speaker 2: this is like very different, but it's like it's interesting
Speaker 2: because it was also like interesting just to see like
Speaker 2: almost like the pros come back to and like judge
Speaker 2: and like give you guys notes. But it was like
Speaker 2: different almost in a different light than what we typically
Speaker 2: see them on like the actual Dancing with the Stars show.
Speaker 2: Like I feel like I don't know, in a way,
Speaker 2: it was like a little bit more personal and I'm
Speaker 2: like I actually love this, Like it was good. So
Speaker 2: how was like the experience overall? Like obviously we know
Speaker 2: that you just got eliminated this past week, so how
Speaker 2: how was the process?
Speaker 3: And it's I will say the process for me was
Speaker 3: like really healing, like some like especially my week too
Speaker 3: Rumbo with Tristan, like just be able to do that
Speaker 3: was like I just was like so happy. I did
Speaker 3: learn a lot about it. I was like I would say,
Speaker 3: like iile growth was like this thing I took from it.
Speaker 3: I grew a lot in that experience and just like
Speaker 3: it really all the things I've been like training for
Speaker 3: like was put to the test and said just short
Speaker 3: amount of time in that in that environment and that competition,
Speaker 3: and so yeah, it was definitely it was good and
Speaker 3: I I am glad I did it, Like I'm really
Speaker 3: happy that I went and I just went for as
Speaker 3: much as I could.
Speaker 2: So and so it's so funny because I was like,
Speaker 2: obviously when I saw you last at Miami swimming, you
Speaker 2: were like have my back, and I was like, I
Speaker 2: got you, which is like so crazy because I'm like,
Speaker 2: we know, like obviously social media is like a beast
Speaker 2: of its own and it comes with so many great things,
Speaker 2: but also like there is like a negative part of it. Yeah,
Speaker 2: And I remember I was like, okay, like the first
Speaker 2: episode came out and then I think people like just
Speaker 2: kind of like took something.
Speaker 1: And ran with it. They're like, oh, it's definitely Steph.
Speaker 2: Like Steph is like I saw that like comment so
Speaker 2: many times of like Steph's the next pro and like
Speaker 2: you know, people just like make assumptions or whatever. But
Speaker 2: how was like having the feedback from just the audience
Speaker 2: and how well did you like obviously digest it.
Speaker 1: What was like some challenging parts for.
Speaker 3: You yeah, I definitely knew that. Like on the show,
Speaker 3: like you know, the danceming stars fans like they really
Speaker 3: are invested, so like they're gonna comment basically honey opinions
Speaker 3: they have, which is awesome for the show, but also
Speaker 3: like just I had to remember that going in the
Speaker 3: like feedback on the show like was great, Like I
Speaker 3: feel that they didn't really air a lot of every
Speaker 3: judge's like comment They definitely cut out like a lot
Speaker 3: of things really, yeah, from like for everybody. So I
Speaker 3: think the audience feedback, I just take it, and I like,
Speaker 3: I'll like whenever I get comments like that, especially if
Speaker 3: they're like a lot of just like negative comments or
Speaker 3: just like maybe work on this, Like, I'll like listen
Speaker 3: to it and I'll think about it, and I'm like
Speaker 3: if it doesn't I'm like if I'm like, honestly, they
Speaker 3: might be right. It's some things, you know, And then
Speaker 3: if it doesn't serve me, I kind of just like
Speaker 3: let it brush off and I keep going. Yeah, especially
Speaker 3: in the comments with my hair, that really was like
Speaker 3: hard for me.
Speaker 1: No.
Speaker 2: I I literally I was like I can't join this conversa.
Speaker 2: I'm like, I got your back on everything, cause I
Speaker 2: was like, I'm gonna get myself in trouble because I'm
Speaker 2: like I just thought it was like insane, like you
Speaker 2: know what. I mean, it was just too like fixated
Speaker 2: on that, And I'm like, that's if that's the only
Speaker 2: thing that you can say or like fine to critique
Speaker 2: about stuff, then I mean she's doing a great job,
Speaker 2: you know what. And it's just like it's so like
Speaker 2: it's just something that's like not needed.
Speaker 1: And I did.
Speaker 2: Not appreciate that because I'm like, you just don't comment
Speaker 2: on a woman of colors hair, but like who am I?
Speaker 3: Yeah?
Speaker 2: But no, I will say, like I feel like you
Speaker 2: handled yourself so well, and like obviously, like we see
Speaker 2: Ezra was able to like support you and like you
Speaker 2: guys did a lot of content together. So how has
Speaker 2: that been like having obviously your brother's support, Like I know,
Speaker 2: he's the best and yeah everything.
Speaker 3: He told me, like he's a girl, I got your back. Yeah,
Speaker 3: So just like I don't know, I'm just like grateful
Speaker 3: I had him in my corner because I think it
Speaker 3: would have been really hard and even like there was
Speaker 3: like one day I was like crying about it and
Speaker 3: he just came and told me he was like, Steff,
Speaker 3: like you're having these hard situations in these hard conversations
Speaker 3: because future people are not gonna be able to have
Speaker 3: the like you're gonna, You're gonna you're gonna make it
Speaker 3: easy for them. So like being able to navigate curly
Speaker 3: hair on a ballroom is like very rare, not a thing.
Speaker 3: Like even when I'd compete, I had I slicked my
Speaker 3: hair or I did like half a pop downer, which
Speaker 3: is great, Like I get it's like you know, I
Speaker 3: get it, palet, it's class seats all the things. But
Speaker 3: I think for my younger self, I really wanted to
Speaker 3: be authentically myself for that first week. So that's why
Speaker 3: I had it all the way out.
Speaker 1: Yeah no, I'm like, I love your hair.
Speaker 2: I'm like, yeah, okay. So this past week was a
Speaker 2: harder episode, and I think a lot of the fans
Speaker 2: got to see that there's like maybe not so great
Speaker 2: comments about Tristan and like how his attitude was and
Speaker 2: rehearsals with you, so like if you can tell us
Speaker 2: a little bit, like how was that navigating working alongside
Speaker 2: him and you know, ultimately like seeing you guys have
Speaker 2: to say goodbye, or like that being y'all's last dance.
Speaker 1: How was like that for you?
Speaker 3: Yeah, it was definitely like I felt like I saw
Speaker 3: like I felt Tristan, Like I I remember when he
Speaker 3: first got into the house, Like I was like, just
Speaker 3: so you know, like I got your back because like
Speaker 3: I like, there's not many people like us in that space.
Speaker 3: And I was like, if you need anything, and if
Speaker 3: you feel like out of place, like come talk to me,
Speaker 3: because I know I feel you. And so I think
Speaker 3: we created like a beautiful like friendship. And I think
Speaker 3: it was just hard because like in the competition, like
Speaker 3: my stakes were really high, Like I like, I have
Speaker 3: to keep keep reminding myself that, like I trained my
Speaker 3: whole life for at this moment, and so I am
Speaker 3: a very empathetic person. So if I care about somebody,
Speaker 3: sometimes i'll like, you know, you know, not really honor
Speaker 3: what is it that I need to do? And so,
Speaker 3: I mean it was hard that week, like disappointing him,
Speaker 3: but I knew that it was the right decision for me.
Speaker 3: But when we did come together and we like you know,
Speaker 3: made up and everything, like we really did make the
Speaker 3: most out of that, you know, having to do another
Speaker 3: rumba again, like and Ezra told me going in, like,
Speaker 3: which is the best piece of advice I ever got
Speaker 3: from him, was like, whatever cards are dealt, like you
Speaker 3: just make the most out of it because you never know,
Speaker 3: you never know, and like you know, like when he
Speaker 3: was part of with annadelve like it wasn't the greatest card,
Speaker 3: but he made the most out.
Speaker 2: I'm telling you, like, if anyone could do it, it was him,
Speaker 2: and he really did that.
Speaker 3: He was Yeah. Basically when I got the room, I
Speaker 3: was like, I'm just remembering that. I'm like, who knows,
Speaker 3: Like this is an opportunity for me to show the
Speaker 3: judges I can create another dynamic rumba that's different from
Speaker 3: the one we just did. So I just really try
Speaker 3: to like think of it positive to positively. But like
Speaker 3: towards the end, I was just kind.
Speaker 1: Of like, yeah, it was a lot. Yeah, it was
Speaker 1: a lot.
Speaker 3: Yeah, but I'm very proud of the rumba that we did,
Speaker 3: like with the like the cards, Like I just I'm
Speaker 3: very happy with it.
Speaker 2: So no, I mean all the dances, I thought, like truly,
Speaker 2: like I said, I'm your biggest everything you was, how
Speaker 2: was it choreography, like choreographing the numbers, like you guys
Speaker 2: obviously collectively together choreographed. So how was that experience or choreographing.
Speaker 1: Like in the group week yeah, but also like in
Speaker 1: like whenever you guys are paid. Oh yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 3: It was crazy because we only had five hours for
Speaker 3: each routine, so like week, like like a week no, no,
Speaker 3: like we had like basically.
Speaker 1: Two days oh for every dance. Yeah.
Speaker 3: So we had three hours the first day yeah yeah,
Speaker 3: and they timed it like we walked in there was
Speaker 3: like a timer and we had to choreograph it and
Speaker 3: they listening to the music right away we just start
Speaker 3: going oh wow.
Speaker 1: Yeah.
Speaker 3: It was very much like high stakes, like we had
Speaker 3: to be ready. So that was hard. And then I
Speaker 3: think we had two or three hours the next day,
Speaker 3: depending on but they wanted to make it fair for everybody,
Speaker 3: so everybody had the same amount of hours, which I
Speaker 3: thought was great.
Speaker 1: Yeah fair.
Speaker 3: Yeah yeah, so yeah that that was crazy because even
Speaker 3: on Dancing with Stars like you don't you get you
Speaker 3: get like a lease a week.
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's what I was like. I was like, oh wow,
Speaker 2: this is like and cut that in a half. Yeah,
Speaker 2: I kept that in a half.
Speaker 1: It's crazy.
Speaker 3: So if I wanted to be inspired by a routine
Speaker 3: or like maybe like figure out a cool lift, like
Speaker 3: I couldn't go on like we could, but like we
Speaker 3: had a certain amount of like time. So yeah, it
Speaker 3: was hard. It was the hardest thing I've ever done.
Speaker 1: You guys not having your phone so there's like no like.
Speaker 3: I couldn't like text like what needs work, like you know,
Speaker 3: like and we'll do that with each other, Like he'll
Speaker 3: send me stuff like of him and Jordan last year
Speaker 3: and be like, yeah, what do you think for her arms?
Speaker 3: I'm like, oh, maybe, like you know, we help each
Speaker 3: other yea, yeah yeah, so.
Speaker 2: Yeah a lot of self reliance. It seems like yeah,
Speaker 2: you're like going in there and that's it.
Speaker 1: You only have.
Speaker 3: Yourself, Yeah, literally yourself and you're.
Speaker 2: Wow, yeah, I'm like it carried you. So like I'm
Speaker 2: honestly so happy for you, like I really am. And
Speaker 2: obviously my biggest thing is like I.
Speaker 1: Love keeping up with what's next for you?
Speaker 2: So is there anything that you can tease for us
Speaker 2: about what's next a fun project?
Speaker 1: And it's okay if you can't, but like, yeah, I like.
Speaker 3: I will say that I'm going to keep training ballroom.
Speaker 3: I know, I said on the shows like I was
Speaker 3: like kind of closing the chapter. But I'm just gonna
Speaker 3: keep trying. But I'm also gonna put my eggs in
Speaker 3: other baskets. Yeah, and like I am doing like an
Speaker 3: acting project soon, so I'm really excited about that, Okay.
Speaker 3: And then yeah, I'm just gonna keep training Trump. Maybe
Speaker 3: I really want to get back in my hip hop
Speaker 3: bag too, So.
Speaker 1: No, I'm like hip hop is it?
Speaker 2: That's That's like the consensus from this interview is like
Speaker 2: that wants to be a hip hop GIRLI and she
Speaker 2: will be so yeah, oh my gosh, Okay, amazing. Okay,
Speaker 2: We're gonna play a quick game. Yeah, let's do it
Speaker 2: because I'm like I love I love love love games.
Speaker 1: It's basically rapid fi. So just first answer that comes
Speaker 1: to your mind. But it's like, you know, related to you.
Speaker 2: Okay, the first one, most nerve racking performance that you've
Speaker 2: ever done.
Speaker 3: U my week one next parl Yeah yeah.
Speaker 1: But I'm like you also killed it. Okay. One artist
Speaker 1: still on your dance bucket list?
Speaker 3: Tyler?
Speaker 1: What okay? You know what? No, that makes so much sense.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm obsessed with her.
Speaker 1: No, that makes I'm manifesting that, right. I need to
Speaker 1: see you.
Speaker 2: Wait no, that actually, I'm like you are like her, like,
Speaker 2: wait no, this makes so much sense.
Speaker 3: Yes, and she's such a body. And I love her
Speaker 3: choreography too.
Speaker 1: Yes. I was like it's very fitting for you. Yeah,
Speaker 1: I love it.
Speaker 3: I'm like, oh I love her.
Speaker 1: Okay, great, Yes, we're gonna manifest that. We'll see that
Speaker 1: Tyler very soon. Okay, what's leb do you think could
Speaker 1: take home the next mirror ball?
Speaker 3: Honestly, oh, I forgot her name, but she danced. She
Speaker 3: did like a little like spin and dip with val
Speaker 3: at Miami's More Mara. Yeah.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I was like her.
Speaker 3: Back and her legs and her feet. I'm like, she's
Speaker 3: literally ballroom girly. It's like she did need some training
Speaker 3: and she's gonna be great.
Speaker 2: Was funny because I was like, wait when I saw that,
Speaker 2: I was like, oh, she's gonna crush like ballroom and
Speaker 2: I feel like for like because I'm like petite like
Speaker 2: her too. I was like, I was, I struggled so
Speaker 2: much with Latin, so I was like, I'm gonna it's
Speaker 2: gonna be interesting to see, like, which is her not struggle?
Speaker 1: You was? You were good?
Speaker 2: And Ezra I literally knew he was hours in the studio.
Speaker 2: But yes, I feel like she would do good regardless.
Speaker 2: But I also have seer like see her. I feel
Speaker 2: like it's going to crush it.
Speaker 3: Her personality too. I feel like is like very like
Speaker 3: I need a win.
Speaker 1: I need a win for the girlies. Yeah, so I'm
Speaker 1: patting my money on me too. Just kidding. My answer, Okay,
Speaker 1: who's funnier you are? Ezra? For sure?
Speaker 3: Ezra, He's just funny. He's just funny. He's always been funny, and.
Speaker 1: He's forever you know, he really is one of the kind. Yeah,
Speaker 1: really is.
Speaker 2: Okay, what is your biggest dating red flag about yourself?
Speaker 3: About myself? Yeah, that's what's about myself. I'm really bad
Speaker 3: at communicating sometimes that's okay. I get lost with time,
Speaker 3: Like I'll like be out and about and I'll like
Speaker 3: forget to text my boyfriend that I've been like that,
Speaker 3: I went to this and like, I'm just really bad
Speaker 3: because I'm so in my career. So that's probably my
Speaker 3: red flag is I'm very much career person. Okay, so
Speaker 3: sometimes I will put my career over my person So
Speaker 3: but as a woman, like I feel like that's okay.
Speaker 1: Sometimes listen.
Speaker 2: It's it is okay, and it's more ups my career,
Speaker 2: which is like maybe I don't know balance, there's balance
Speaker 2: and everything, but I do. I do appreciate that it's
Speaker 2: that and not something else, you know, Okay, you know
Speaker 2: what I mean. It's for your career, So I'm always
Speaker 2: supportive of that. Yeah, yeah, okay, we're not mad at it.
Speaker 2: Morning person or.
Speaker 3: Night owl night owl Yeah, niowl for sure.
Speaker 1: Yeah.
Speaker 3: I'll be up to like two in the morning.
Speaker 1: I'm screaming literally crazy lily. Okay. One song guarantee to
Speaker 1: get you dancing.
Speaker 3: One song, Oh, staying Alive, Okay, I don't know why,
Speaker 3: just like, oh, that's so sexy. It's just a girl
Speaker 3: and he was just like no, no, no, yeah, the
Speaker 3: eighties hair.
Speaker 1: Yeah yeah, okay, that's a good one.
Speaker 2: The best part about being on Dancing with the Stars next.
Speaker 1: Pro is.
Speaker 3: The growth.
Speaker 1: Oh okay, that's a good that's a beautiful answer. Yeaheah.
Speaker 1: I feel like those shows always like it's.
Speaker 2: It pushes you to extremes, you know, and it's like
Speaker 2: it really is about what you learn, what you take
Speaker 2: away from it. It's not always gonna be the easiest path,
Speaker 2: but I appreciate that. Yeah, okay, great.
Speaker 1: What's one dream you still haven't checked off your list?
Speaker 3: I really want to be in a feature film where
Speaker 3: I can sing, dance, and act, like do all three?
Speaker 1: Okay beautiful, that's.
Speaker 3: Like really that's like big, big, big down the line.
Speaker 2: Maybe soon, You're like, that's weight down. I'm like maybe
Speaker 2: next week. Yeah, okay, cool. If your friends called you
Speaker 2: from jail, oh, period, what do you think they would assume?
Speaker 3: The reason would be, I'm not surprised, and they probably
Speaker 3: say I'm not surprised. Probably Honestly, I don't know.
Speaker 1: I'm like so curious because I'm like I feel like
Speaker 1: I know you, but I don't know.
Speaker 3: Like maybe possibly when I get like a little too drunk,
Speaker 3: I get like really emotional and like if you like piss.
Speaker 1: Me off, I'll scream that's okay.
Speaker 3: So maybe if I'm like too much screaming.
Speaker 1: I don't know, like potentially like getting in a fight.
Speaker 3: With somebody or accidentally do something. I do a lot
Speaker 3: of things on accident, Like I'm just like sometimes I'm
Speaker 3: just not yeah yeah, like I'll forget like my wallet
Speaker 3: or yeah, stuff like that, So maybe accidentally do something.
Speaker 2: I don't know amazing. I think, you know, it's so funny.
Speaker 2: I think Ezra. Ezra messaged me at Miami swim Meet
Speaker 2: and that was like one of his questions.
Speaker 1: What did he say? He was Steph is Steph out?
Speaker 1: Is she lit right now? I was like, no, I
Speaker 1: saw her. She just performed. I think she's good. Yeah,
Speaker 1: it's so funny.
Speaker 3: Yeah, Like that's what I need to tell my chica
Speaker 3: because I'm like, I'm like, was crazy, Like I was
Speaker 3: just like I want to have fun, like I'm loud.
Speaker 1: I love we support it over here. Okay? Would you
Speaker 1: rather hand out a rose or receive one? Oh?
Speaker 3: I hand out a rose?
Speaker 1: Okay? And with that, I do have a question. Would
Speaker 1: you ever do like a dating show? Not if I'm single?
Speaker 3: Probably?
Speaker 1: Oh yeah you're dating?
Speaker 3: Yeah? If I was single, then yeah probably that's my bad. Actually,
Speaker 3: I would love to do Love Island just for the fits.
Speaker 1: I feel like you would do good.
Speaker 3: Like I wouldn't even want to find a man, like
Speaker 3: I just want to like dress up and the friendships. Yeah,
Speaker 3: the friendships, the girls and then the fits like they're
Speaker 3: all of like I feel like I dress like that
Speaker 3: when I go out, So I'm like, definitely it would just.
Speaker 1: Love maybe we can make it happen. You're silent, Okay, yeah,
Speaker 1: oh my gosh.
Speaker 2: Well, thank you, Stephanie. Thanks so much for joining us today.
Speaker 2: This was honestly a pleasure. And like you know, I
Speaker 2: love you so much. Like you're the best at what
Speaker 2: you do and just honestly have such a good head
Speaker 2: on your shoulders. So you're biggest fan over here and
Speaker 2: always supporting you and rooting for your success.
Speaker 1: So and you're a baddy and I love you. Where
Speaker 1: can our listeners follow you at.
Speaker 3: Add Steffi Chica on Instagram and TikTok.
Speaker 2: Period Ahead and for our listeners you can follow us
Speaker 2: at Back to a Happy Hour and Vaccination. Make sure
Speaker 2: you rate, review, you subscribe wherever you listen to your
Speaker 2: podcast and people say guy's see Si