Rylee Arnold on Balancing Type 1 Diabetes and DWTS Stardom

The transition to professional dancing while navigating a chronic illness proved difficult for Arnold, who joined the show’s main competition series at 18. Early on, she struggled with the vulnerability of administering insulin in front of peers, eventually realizing that prioritizing her health was essential for her longevity. This commitment led her to step away from the DWTS tour last year, a decision she described as painful but necessary to maintain her physical well-being.

Arnold credits her time on the show with providing the structure needed to master her condition, noting that it took six years to fully understand her body's reactions. Beyond her personal health journey, Arnold has become a key figure in shifting the show’s demographic. By leveraging her TikTok presence and embracing a younger, social-media-savvy audience, she has helped transform the program from a traditional broadcast staple into a viral hit. Her sister, former pro Lindsay Arnold, remains a primary influence, offering the advice to remain authentic regardless of the pressures of fame. Outside the studio, Arnold’s life has also found stability; she recently began a relationship with USC football player Walker Lyons after a chance introduction by her Uber driver.