“Dancing with the Stars” pro dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy knows a thing or two about the pain and heartache experienced by “The Bachelor’s” Brad Womack – except Maks’ search for love took place on the other side of the world.
The 31-year-old “DWTS” hunk stopped by Access Hollywood Live on Tuesday and dished about his other reality TV gig as the Ukrainian “Bachelor.”
“I would probably never [have done] the show, if I had known what it was going to feel like,” Maks told Billy Bush and Kit Hoover.
“I may be a lot of things, but I’ve been very well raised,” he continued. “For me to stand there and have a lineup of people and pretty much point fingers and say, ‘You, you, you, you, not you, ‘cause you’re worse than others, you don’t get the rose’… it’s crazy!”
Despite his apprehension to breaking hearts, the ballroom dancer doesn’t regret his quest for love.
“It’s an experience. I will never regret anything I’ve ever done in my life. I think I’ve been smart enough to not do anything regretful,” Maks — who stayed mum on whether he found love on the series that debuts this week in Ukraine — told Billy and Kit, explaining that the stress of the show took its toll on his body. “You have no idea what it feels like, I was standing there, I was sweating, I was nervous, I chipped my tooth, because I was grinding my teeth.”
As for his current stateside pairing, “DWTS” partner Kirstie Alley, Maks promised that a big transformation will take place for the actress who has battled with weight.
“Let’s be honest, the show is about changes, and she’s probably the best contender to show the change and show the progress. She’s going to be half of her by the time we’re half way into the show. I guarantee it!” he said. “She’s come with the baggage and I’m helping her through it. She’s an amazing woman… incredible personality.”
Maks explained that Kirstie’s age, 60, and weight would not stop her from fiercely competing on the hit ABC series.
“Age is not an issue… neither is weight really, I mean, it’s a stamina issue, but we have that issue with anybody,” he told Billy and Kit. “I just like the fact that I haven’t changed anything about my approach to the competition. How I choreograph, what I choreograph, the choice of steps, she wants to do it all.”
Watch Maks and Kirstie take on the competition on the two-hour Season 12 premiere of “Dancing with the Stars” — March 21 at 8 PM on ABC.
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