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Ariana Madix reveals her 'friendship' with Ariel gave her a strong frame ahead of DWTS Disney week

Madix also was a "friend" of Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella.

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Published on October 16, 2023 10:00AM EDT

Ariana Madix is tight with the Disney princesses.

The Vanderpump Rules star currently competing on season 32 of Dancing With the Stars alongside partner Pasha Pashkov has deep Disney roots. Ahead of the show's annual Disney week, this year a tribute to 100 years of Walt Disney Studios, Madix tells EW that she has a special relationship with some of the company's most iconic princesses.

"I used to hang out with Disney princesses, as we say in the biz," she teases, referring to the fact that the actors who portray Disney characters at the theme parks must call themselves a "friend" of the character when addressing the nature of their employment.

Ariana Madix, THE LITTLE MERMAID — Ariana Madix; Ariel in 'The Little Mermaid'. Paul Archuleta/Getty Images; Everett Collection

Before moving to Los Angeles, Madix worked at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., where she spent her time with three princesses in particular. "My closest friend was Sleeping Beauty," she adds. "I hung out with her the most. Then Cinderella and Ariel."

Madix also quips that her excellent ballroom frame, for which she has received praise from the DWTS judges, stems from her years in the orbit of the little mermaid.

"That's where these arms come from," she says, extending her arms in a flexed pose and showing off to Pashkov. "These are Ariel arms. Quickstep arms."

However, Madix will be breaking away from the more traditional ballroom frame on Disney week, dancing a Contemporary style routine with Pashkov. She won't be flipping her fins this time, though — she'll get to form a new princess connection when she performs to Frozen II's "Into the Unknown," sung by Elsa (Idina Menzel) in the movie.

"I'm sure we'll talk about [my past] next week," Madix adds. "But our dance next week is going to be quite the departure from the princess stuff."

Dancing With the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+.

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