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Was there ever another Dancing star who coming back week after week after seemingly always being the underdog? We can’t wait to see what Bristol the Pistol has in store for us as an All-Star.
Bristol Palin, 21 years old, was born and raised in Wasilla, Alaska. Bristol is the second child and oldest daughter of former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd. Bristol and Levi Johnston's son, Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston, was born in 2008.
Bristol is an author, speaker, and reality television personality. After she became a single mother at age 18, Bristol began to publicly advocate teenage pregnancy prevention, and is now a paid speaker on the subject of teen pregnancy. In May 2009, at age 18, Bristol worked with The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy to inform young people about the negative consequences of teenage pregnancy.
In May 2009, Bristol was named a Teen Pregnancy Prevention Ambassador for the Candie’s Foundation, a teen pregnancy prevention organization that is a division of the Candie's clothing brand. Her duties as a paid spokeswoman involved attending town hall meetings, public service announcements, and giving interviews on morning talk shows.
Bristol competed in the fall 2010 season of Dancing with the Stars and reached the finals, finishing in third place. In June 2011, Bristol and Nancy French released her memoir Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far. Bristol candidly discusses aspects of her personal life, including tensions with the McCain family and losing her virginity. The book was a New York Times bestseller.
Currently, Bristol is starring in a docu-series Life's a Tripp. The series follows Bristol as she adjusts back to normal routine in Alaska.
Mark Ballas
BACKGROUND:
Coming from a family of international dance stars, it's no surprise that Mark has two shiny disco ball trophies at home. He even beat out his dad, Corky, and tied with childhood friend Derek Hough, for the wins.
Mark joined the show in Season 5. Despite their stellar performances, he and partner Sabrina Bryan were eliminated in week six. It was so controversial that various websites voted it 2007's Most Shocking TV Moment.
Despite the Season 5 upset, Mark came back to win the DWTS title in Season 6 with partner Kristi Yamaguchi, and again in Season 8 with Shawn Johnson. In Season 14, he made it to the finals, before landing in second place with Katherine Jenkins.
Born in Houston, Texas, Mark moved to London with his family as a child and joined the Italia Conti Academy of Dramatic Arts Associate School where his training in acting and singing/dancing began.
He grew up with fellow DWTS pros Derek and Julianne Hough, who lived and trained with his parents. He says they are more like family than friends. "We get along like brothers...we fight like brothers." Mark and Julianne partnered to win Junior Latin American and Junior Olympics dance championships.
As an actor, Mark has played the lead in the musical Copacabana. He also took on roles in the UK tour of Maria de Buenos Aires, and was an understudy in the London Palladium production of The Buddy Holly Musical. Plus, maybe you caught his guest star appearance on the 2008 season premiere of Samantha Who?
When he's not dancing, Mark focuses on his other passion, which is music. He rocks out with his band on tour and in the studio, and has released two CD's as a solo artist and one as the Ballas Hough band.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
• British Juvenile Ballroom and Latin American dance champ
• US Open to the World, British Open to the World and International Open to the World Junior Latin American Champ
• Junior Olympics Gold Medal Winner
• British Open to the World, US Open to the World, International Open to the World twice, United Kingdom, Youth Latin American Dance Champion
• Katherine Jenkins
• Kristin Cavallari
• Chelsea Kane
• Bristol Palin
• Shannen Doherty
• Melissa Joan Hart
• Shawn Johnson
• Kim Kardashian
• Kristi Yamaguchi
• Sabrina Bryan
http://beta.abc.go.c...st-announcement
