'Jersey Shore' 's Vinny Guadagnino on How His Chippendales Experience Will Help Him on 'DWTS' : 'Rip It Off'

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Getty Images

Vinny Guadagninois hoping his Chippendales moves will earn him 10s all around!

TheJersey Shorestar spoke to PEOPLE and other reporters on Thursday about his involvement with season 31 ofDancing With The Starsand whether he thinks his experience as a Chippendales performer will help him on the dance floor.

As fans may recall, Guadagninoappeared in the Chippendales show in Las Vegas in 2019as part of a month-long residency that featured him taking on the guest host role.

“I don’t know if I’m going to rip the t-shirt open right off the bat. But just being on stage, being in front of a crowd, dancing, learning some choreography definitely helps,” Guadagnino, 34, admitted. “But this is completely different. This is ballroom style. Something I’ve never done before.”

Guadignino’s new partnerKoko Iwasakithen teased, “We'’ll try to incorporate a little peekaboo here and there at some point.”

“We got to let it build a little bit. And then, we’ll rip it off,” Guadagnino joked. “We’re going to bring the shower in from Chippendales, and that’s it.”

Denise Truscello/Getty

While Guadagnino is thrilled to be part of the cast, he revealed that hisJersey Shorecostars are equally as excited, sharing with reporters that “the group chat is crazy lit right now.”

“They’re literally like, ‘What’s your first dance?’ They’re posting all the press articles, and I’m not even posting it. They’re the ones doing it. They’re so excited,” he noted.

“They’re giving me tips and advice. And it’s just something that you announce that everybody loves,” he continued. “No one hates on it. And they did it already. So now, it’s my turn to do it.”

On what advice he would ask costar and formerDWTScompetitorNicole “Snooki” Polizzi, Guadagnino admitted, “We’re not professional dancers. So, just how did she just conquer that moment?”

“You can learn the steps. You know what I’m saying? But how do you add that personality? How do you add that flare?” he asked. “She knows how to do that because, again, we’re not real professional dancers. So, we have to work with what we got, with our personality.”

“I’m a reality star one day, a host the next day, a stripper the next day, a dancer the next day. So, here we are,” he joked. “We’ll see what happens next. I don’t even think about it anymore. I’m just happy to be employed.”

As he prepares to make his debut on the upcoming season, Guadagnino said “I’m actually happy it’s happening now” instead of competing on the series at the height ofJersey Shorein 2009-2012.

“I’m 34 now. I’m in the best shape of my life. I feel good. I’m mentally there. And I’m ready to do this competition right now more than I would [have been,]” he added. “I could have done it back then, but I’m ready for it right now.”

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Season 31 ofDancing with the Starspremieres Sept. 19 on Disney+.

source: people.com