As one of the world’s most famous fraudsters she might be more used to an orange jumpsuit than a dancer’s costume. But there was no mistaking Anna Sorokin as she waltzed back into the spotlight on the US series of Dancing With The Stars while wearing a bejewelled ankle monitor. The 33-year-old, known as the “fake heiress”, was convicted in 2019 on multiple theft charges after posing as a wealthy socialite to infiltrate the elite of New York.
Under the name Anna Delvey she falsified records and deceived banks and the wealthy to swindle them out of more than $US263,000 ($390,000) . Her story inspired the hit Netflix drama Inventing Anna, starring Julia Garner as the titular grifter. And Sorokin, who wore a multicoloured two-piece outfit and heels, did not let the extra weight of her ankle tag affect her footwork.
She earned 18 points out of a possible 30 for her debut performance of the Cha Cha with professional partner Ezra Sosa. The Russian-born fraudster, who is under house arrest, said she hoped fans of Dancing with the Stars who had negative opinions of her would give her a chance. “I did serve my time and Dancing with the Stars is a way for me to show people a different side of me,” she said.
“My prior history shows I’m pretty determined. It’s a good quality to channel into something positive.” She added: “I am wearing an ankle bracelet.
I overstayed my visa because I was in jail. “I reinvented myself many times and this time I’m going to be a ba.