The cast and partners for season 16 of Dancing with the Stars was announced Monday and last season's winner, Melissa Rycroft, talked about her predictions for the show and some advice she has for the new dancers.

The former contestant of The Bachelor and Bachelor Pad won season 15 of the reality dance competition in its all-stars lineup with her partner Tony Dovolani. She said the show's new cast are bound to bring an added entertainment factor to the already popular ABC series because of their different backgrounds.

"It's going to be so much to fun to watch." she told SheKnows. "You have incredible athletes that have a dedication that us normal people don't understand, musicians who understand music and beats that brings an edge to their performance and actors who just draw you in."

The new cast includes Olympic gold medalist and gymnast Aly Raisman, country singers Wynonna Judd and Kelli Pickler, and star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Lisa Vanderpump, to name a few. Rycroft said that out of all the contenders, the comedians - such as D.L. Hughley - might have an edge in the competition because "That fun attitude and sense of humor is really going to help them get through it."

For season 16's first episode, the contestants have up to three weeks to prepare and as the season progresses they will have only days to rehearse.

"My advice? Buckle up and hold on," Rycroft said. "You can't prepare for the pressure."

As far as predictions, "You just can't tell," Rycroft added. "For example, I have no idea what Andy Dick's gonna throw out here. We could all be surprised."

She noted that "early favorites" are likely to be Pickler and Raisman with their respective partners but that Judd might also be one of them. In season 15 a different Olympian gold medalist and gymnast, Shawn Johnson, made it to the show's finale alongside Rycroft and General Hospital actress Kelly Monaco.

Rycroft stayed relatively mum on any predictions she had about a season 16 winner but did add that she is "a huge Housewives fan" and that she is excited to watch Vanderpump take to the dance floor, perhaps with her dog Jiggy.

Watch footage from season 15 where Rycroft and Dovolani were announced as the winners of Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars.

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