VAL CHMERKOVSKIY Joining the Ultimate Escape Room

Val Chmerkovskiy entered Hulu's Got to Get Out as a three-time Mirrorball winner on Dancing With the Stars — but how did that translate to success on a very different type of reality competition series?

- YANA GREBENYUK

“I quickly realized that I am a rookie,” quips Chmerkovskiy, 39. “I just didn't want to lose myself in the process. [But] I wanted to win.” Trying to make it to the end wasn't easy though, since there were 19 other TV personalities vying for a chance to win $1 million while working to get out of the house. “[Eventu-ally] it stopped being about the money and really became more about the challenge of getting out and leaving these guys,” he jokes. “At some point, you get cabin fever, and I was already over half the cast.” Chmerkovskiy breaks down his process for Us.

Did DWTS prepare you at all for Got to Get Out?