The Shocking Truth About Kim Kardashian's Disaster Season On Dancing With The Stars (And Her Recent Confession)

Yes, Kim Kardashian was indeed a contestant on the reality competition series Dancing with the Stars (DWTS), but her tenure on the dance floor was notoriously brief and, by her own admission, quite challenging. Her appearance on the show, which aired back in 2008, predates her rise to the mega-stardom she enjoys today, offering a fascinating, awkward glimpse into the early days of the Kardashian-Jenner empire.

The experience is one that the reality TV star continues to reflect on, even today in late 2025, often joking about her lack of natural rhythm and the intense pressure of the ballroom. She has recently shared some hilarious, candid confessions about what she wished she had done differently, proving that even a global icon has moments she’d rather forget.

Kim Kardashian: The DWTS Season 7 Biography & Journey

Kim Kardashian’s stint on Dancing with the Stars is a memorable footnote in the show's history, not for her dazzling footwork, but for her early exit. She participated during a pivotal time in her career, just as Keeping Up with the Kardashians was gaining mainstream traction.

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• Full Name: Kimberly Noel Kardashian
• Born: October 21, 1980 (Age as of late 2025: 45)
• Occupation: Media Personality, Socialite, Model, Businesswoman, Producer, and Lawyer-in-training.
• DWTS Season: Season 7 (Aired in 2008)
• Professional Partner: Mark Ballas
• Elimination Date: October 7, 2008 (Week 3)
• Final Placement: 11th Place
• DWTS Host: Tom Bergeron and Samantha Harris
• DWTS Judges: Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli, and Carrie Ann Inaba

The Short-Lived DWTS Run: Week-by-Week Breakdown

Kim Kardashian and her professional partner, the two-time Mirrorball champion Mark Ballas, were an early favorite on paper, but their chemistry and scores never quite took off. The pressure of live performance seemed to weigh heavily on the celebrity contestant, resulting in consistently low scores from the panel of judges.

Her entire journey lasted only three weeks, culminating in her being the third couple eliminated from the competition. Here is a look at the dances and the critical scores that sealed her fate:

Week 1: Foxtrot and Mambo

The premiere week of Season 7 required contestants to perform two dances. Kim and Mark Ballas debuted with a Foxtrot and a Mambo.

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• Foxtrot: Performed to "The Pink Panther Theme." The judges’ scores were 6, 6, and 7, totaling 19/30.
• Mambo: Performed to "Baby Got Back." The score was 18/30.

Week 2: Rumba

The couple’s second performance was the Rumba, a notoriously difficult and sensual ballroom dance. The judges’ comments were not encouraging, with Bruno Tonioli famously criticizing her stiffness.

• Rumba: Performed to "You Give Me Something." The scores were 6, 7, and 6, totaling a low 17/30.

Week 3: Viennese Waltz and Elimination

In her final week, Kim and Mark performed the elegant Viennese Waltz. Despite the effort, the judges remained unimpressed, resulting in another low score. This combined with the public vote led to her elimination.

• Viennese Waltz: The final dance of her DWTS run.
• Elimination: Kim Kardashian and Mark Ballas were the third couple eliminated, placing 11th. Other notable contestants that season included NFL legend Warren Sapp and Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor.

The Judge's Scrutiny and the 'Freezing' Confession

One of the most enduring memories of Kim’s time on DWTS was the judges’ comments, particularly from head judge Len Goodman, who was known for his blunt critiques. The judges often commented on her lack of fluidity and her inability to fully commit to the performance. This pressure, it turns out, was crippling for the star.

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Kim Kardashian has recently opened up about the experience, giving a fresh, current perspective on why her dancing was so stiff. She admitted that she was terrified and felt immense pressure, which caused her to completely freeze on the dance floor.

Kim’s Recent, Surprising Reflections (2025 Updates)

Unlike her younger brother Rob Kardashian, who had a much more successful run on DWTS Season 13, Kim's experience was fraught with anxiety. In recent years, she has candidly joked about her short-lived ballroom career, providing the most up-to-date insight into her mental state during the competition.

In a surprising and relatable confession, Kim joked that she should have taken "shots of alcohol" before performing to loosen up and calm her nerves. She admitted that the intense, live nature of the show was a struggle, contrasting sharply with the controlled environment of her family’s reality show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

The star also recently compared her own performance anxiety to the natural talent of her daughter, North West, stating that she could "never perform at the Hollywood Bowl" like her daughter has. This comparison highlights just how much the DWTS experience impacted her, even over a decade later.

The DWTS Effect on the Kardashian Empire

While Kim Kardashian's dancing skills were subpar, her appearance on Dancing with the Stars was a brilliant move for the burgeoning Kardashian-Jenner brand. In 2008, the family was still primarily known to E! viewers, and DWTS provided a massive platform on a major network, ABC, exposing her to millions of mainstream viewers.

Her early elimination, while embarrassing, only fueled the public's interest. It proved that even the most famous celebrities are vulnerable to public scrutiny and failure. This vulnerability, ironically, helped solidify her status as a relatable yet aspirational reality TV star.

The show has a long history of featuring Kardashian family members. Beyond Kim, her brother Rob Kardashian appeared in Season 13, finishing an impressive second place with his partner Cheryl Burke. This demonstrates the family’s continued, strategic use of high-profile reality TV to maintain their relevance and topical authority across the entertainment landscape.

In conclusion, Kim Kardashian was on Dancing with the Stars, and it was a moment she still looks back on with a mix of humor and slight regret. Her short run, characterized by the Foxtrot, Mambo, and the infamous "freezing" on stage, has become a classic piece of early Kardashian history, forever cementing her place as one of the show's most talked-about, albeit lowest-scoring, contestants. Her recent reflections in 2025 ensure that this chapter of her life remains a fresh and engaging topic for fans and critics alike.