Chynna Phillips and J.R. Martinez may have wowed the “Dancing With The Stars” judges last week with their flawless and heartfelt performances, but it was Carson Kressley who stole the show. The “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” star was effervescent, campy and a joy to watch -- so much so that the judges had him repeat his performance on the results show.
Kressley spoke to HuffPost Celebrity between “DWTS” rehearsals and, as you can imagine, it was a blast.
HuffPost: Hands off, Maks Chmerkovskiy is mine!
Carson Kressley: There’s plenty to go around!
HuffPost: Does he mind you shamelessly flirting with him?
Kressley: I was a little worried, because before the big announcement of the partners I was a little naughty and I sent out a tweet saying that I didn’t know who my partner was but I was pretty sure it was going to be Maks. He obviously got the tweet and the first day he was trying to give me a little bit of shade so I just ran with it. I said, ‘Stop flirting with me, this is getting awkward.’ Put the onus on him, but he’s been a real sport … He’s really lovely and hot.
HuffPost: You were fabulous on the first show with your pro partner, Anna Trebunskaya. You’re not the best dancer, but it was clear that you had so much fun. Not to sound cheesy, but I think that’s a life lesson.
Kressley: Yes, you’ve got to be who you are. I’m so ‘me’ I can’t even fight it. I think, ultimately, it’s a ballroom dancing competition and you’ve got to do the footwork, which makes me very, very nervous. Quick step is so challenging. I wake up in a sweat over it but you have to bring the fun and the great attitude.
HuffPost: Did you think you’d died and went to heaven when you first went in the costume department?
Kressley: I did. I imagine there are more sequins there than there are in heaven. The costumers are very collaborative with the pros and celebrity partners. I don’t think they envisioned us bringing in swatches, tear sheets and sketches. I’ve always believed that clothing is a great way to tell your story. I wouldn’t wear a sequined, bronze, 70s-style suit in real life -- well, maybe I would -- but it’s all about dressing for the occasion. If you’re dressing for “Dancing With The Stars,” you want to have a lot of sparkle and shine.
HuffPost: How’s Chaz Bono?
Kressley: Chaz is great. There’s been a lot of controversy about him being on the show and it never really crossed my mind. It’s just Chaz -- a guy who wants to entertain and dance. There was all this drama and I kind of got lumped into it. They were saying the show has a gay agenda. Listen people, the show is about ballroom dancing. I think it was pretty gay before we got there.
HuffPost: Don’t you love how campy the show is?
Kressley: And it’s even more campy now! The show is what it is and I don’t think it has any kind of agenda other than to entertain, but I do respect and appreciate the network’s commitment to diversity. Gay people, transgendered people, black people, white people -- that’s what our country is all about.
HuffPost: Have you lost any weight from being on the show?
Kressley: I’ve lost over 200 pounds. My luggage from the airport on the way here. No, I have. You do lose weight but it tones everything up. It gives so much awareness of your body and posture and how all the movement comes from your core.
HuffPost: Don’t you love how Maks and his brother, Valentin, love taking their shirts off?
Kressley: They have their shirts off all the time. In our dress rehearsals they’re just sitting up there in that skybox with their shirts off. I’m like, ‘Are you going to be doing that during the show because it’s going to be very distracting for me.’
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