How Fake Heiress Anna Delvey Is Competing on Dancing With the Stars Amid ICE Restrictions

Anna Delvey may have just invented a new way to compete on Dancing With the Stars.

The Inventing Anna subject—who was convicted of larceny after allegedly posing as a German heiress and scamming thousands of dollars from New York's elites to fund her luxurious lifestyle—has been partnered up with pro dancer Ezra Sosa on season 33 of the ABC dance competition. The network announced her casting Sept. 4, teasing the debut of the “notorious ankle bracelet fashionista” on the Sept. 17 premiere. 

And though Anna was recently on house arrest at her Manhattan apartment for overstaying her visa, she will still be able to compete in-person as the upcoming season films in Los Angeles. 

As she revealed to E! News in an exclusive interview, "I’ve been waiting to get permission from ICE to travel out of state," but noted that she still has travel restrictions otherwise. (For more with Anna, tune into E! News tonight Sept. 4 at 11 p.m.)

But this is not Anna's first foray into reality TV since her 2022 prison release. Last month, she made a cheeky cameo in a promo for USA Network's strategic competition series The Anonymous.

"I might know a thing or two about deception," she quipped in the teaser, flashing her court-ordered ankle monitoring device as she sat in her home. "Never be afraid to dress up your look—or the truth. Trust me, I'd never lie to you."

In another promo, the convicted fraudster advised contestants that "gaslighting can be a great way to get ahead."

"Not that I've ever done it," she joked. "Is it emotionally manipulative? Of course!"

Anna was first arrested on larceny charges in 2017. She was sentenced to four to 12 years in prison—which included time she spent behind bars before her trial—shortly after she was convicted in 2019. 

The socialite was initially released on parole in 2021, but was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Custody (ICE) that same year amid possible deportation proceedings. She spent another year behind bars—during which she even managed to throw an art show for her prison sketches—before she was released on house arrest.

"I've had a great journey," Anna told E! News in December 2022 following her release. "So, this is kind of like the next chapter."

—Reporting by Nikaline McCarley

Keep reading for a closer look at the season 33 cast.

The inspriation behind Inventing Anna will trade her ankle bracelet for dancing shoes alongside partner Ezra Sosa. 

The Olympic rugby player is ready to ruck up the dance floor with pro Alan Bersten. 

The Disney Channel star will try to dance her way to the top with partner Brandon Armstrong. 

The model and her parnter Gleb Savchenko are ready to strut along the ballroom. 

The Dark Knight star is partnered with Britt Stewart. 

All that matters for this Family Matters alum and partner Emma Slater is taking home the mirrorball trophy. 

The Bachelor alum has found his rose between thorns in parnter Jenna Johnson. 

The alum of 90210 is oh so ready to dance alongside Pasha Pashkov. 

The NFL pro and parnter Witney Carson are sure to score a touchdown on the dance floor. 

The NBA star is sure to stand head and shoulders above the competitoin with partner & Daniella Karagach. 

The Olympian has his sights set on another medal—or should we say mirrorball trophy—with partner Rylee Arnold. 

The Traitors alum is sure to weed out the competition with partner Val Chmerkovskiy. 

The Bachelorette star and parnter Sasha Farber will be in full bloom in the ballroom. 

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