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Dancing with the Stars offers up a lot to its fans. From over-the-top costumes to the opportunity to watch myriad famous people potentially do permanent damage to their bodies, it’s the rare reality TV show that still manages to keep us perpetually entertained despite its sometimes formulaic premise. For many seasons, DWTS has offered up artistic flair and drama. And because it’s been on the air for so long, many fans feel like they know the show inside and out.

But there are a lot of misconceptions about how Dancing with the Stars actually works. From where the contestants come from to how the winners are decided, a lot goes on behind-the-scenes that fans don’t necessarily know about. Here are 10 myths about Dancing with the Stars that just aren’t true.

1. The stars aren’t stars

Cheryl Burke and Rob Kardashian wear matching glittery red vests as they dance with their arms in the air on 'Dancing With the Stars.'
Cheryl Burke and Rob Kardashian | ABC

When Dancing with the Stars first premiered in 2005, the premise of the series was that well-known celebrities would be the contestants. That was a big part of the draw for fans, because the prospect of watching their favorite stars learn how to dance seemed too good to pass up.

Over the years, that concept has proven to be true some of the time. But for every Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Lil’ Kim, there have been a dozen “stars” that fans have never heard of. And oftentimes, DWTS pulls its competitors from a pool of other reality TV series.

From Riker Lynch and Hayes Grier to Rob Kardashian and Kate Gosselin, Dancing with the Stars has often proven its definition of the word “star” is questionable.

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