‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 18 Cast: NeNe Leakes Thinks Past as Exotic Dancer will Help Win Mirror Ball Trophy

NeNe Leakes thinks she has a slight edge over the other contestants of "Dancing With the Stars." Even though the season includes professional athletes, the Real Housewives of Atlanta" star believes her past as an exotic dancer will help her get to that coveted Mirror Ball trophy, E! News reports.

"In my twenties I was an exotic dancer... I'm going to bring it," she told Jimmy Kimmel . "I plan to win a lot of the men votes."

Leakes did not hold back when talking about how competitive she's going to be. The other 11 celebrities will definitely have to bring their A-game.

"My strategy is to bring a lot of soul and a lot of personality, which I don't think a lot of those Olympic athlete people have," she said. "I want to make sure that I bring energy and pop!"

As far as who Leakes thinks will be her competition,, she told Kimmel that comedian Drew Carey will probably give her a run for her money because he also has a lot of personality. Check out what she said about the other contestants below:

Billy Dee Williams- Leakes said she thinks he will get a lot of the female votes because he's a "smooth operator" but overall she thinks he'll do ok.

Diana Nyad- Leakes said she thinks Nyad, who swam with sharks, will be a great competitor

Danica McKellar- The reality TV star said since McKellar is cute she'll have the guys in her favor

Sean Avery- Leakes thinks girls will like Avery's butt, however she isn't sure he can shake it

James Maslow- Leakes simply said she thinks he's cute. Guess she doesn't look at Maslow as competition?

Cody Simpson- She said since he's young he'll be able to keep up

Candace Cameron Bure- She thinks the former "Full House" star will do ok

Amy Purdy- Leakes thinks Purdy will do pretty well throughput the show

Charlie White and Meryl Davis- She said it's not really fair because they are Olympians but she doesn't think they have soul and might be a little stiff

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