Ariana Madix’s foot injury: Behind her unusual DWTS footwear choices

"Dancing with the Stars" has seen its fair share of celebrity participants pushing their boundaries, but sometimes those challenges have unintended consequences. Such seems to be the case for "Vanderpump Rules" icon Ariana Madix.

The Footwear Tells a Tale

Earlier this week, Ariana Madix posted on her Instagram Story, sharing a candid image of her in what appeared to be a medical setup with her right foot wrapped in an ice pack. The caption read, “Another day another PT sesh!” Indicating that the star is undergoing physical therapy for her foot.

This revelation about her injury adds context to her recent performances on "Dancing with the Stars." On Oct. 11, she captured the audience's attention with her energetic dance and her choice of bedazzled sneakers, a noticeable departure from the usual heels. 

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When Dance Shoes Aren't Heels

A curious fan, seeking answers to Madix's unusual footwear, took to Instagram to question her choice, especially for a dance form like the Motown quickstep. Ariana responded, “My quickstep shoes weren’t heels to begin with... My foot injury requires a stiff sole hence the last-minute switch, but the other shoes weren’t heels anyway.”

This seemed to be a strategy to cope with her injury as in her performance on Oct. 17, the "Vanderpump Rules" star went completely barefoot for her and Pasha Pashkov's rendition of a "Frozen" contemporary dance.

Hints of Injury: Piecing Together the Timeline

While the exact origin of the injury remains undisclosed, Madix did drop subtle hints on her Instagram about foot troubles as early as Oct. 5. A post showcased her toes wrapped in what she humorously referred to as “Ninja turtle-inspired blister protection.”

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As "Dancing with the Stars" readies for its fifth week, all eyes will be on Ariana Madix and her choice of dance footwear. With the news of her ongoing physical therapy, fans and viewers will be sending well wishes her way, hoping for a quick recovery.

While reps for Madix remained tight-lipped about the specifics of the injury, her resilience and commitment to continue performing are commendable. 

Catch Ariana Madix's upcoming performance with Pasha Pashkov on "Dancing with the Stars," airing Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+.

(Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)