Maksim Chmerkovsky Confesses He Was Teased For Being A Dancer

He's danced his way into the hearts of millions as a great looking, straight pro-dancer on "Dancing With The Stars," but it wasn't always easy for Maksim Chmerkovsky. The native Russian grew up in the USSR, and while he was passionate about dance, he was often bullied.

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"Growing up in the USSR, we didn't have much," Chmerkovsky told In Touch magazine in an exclusive interview. However, once realizing his talent and passion for dance and moving to the U.S., he was teased through his teens and constantly picked-on.

"I encountered bullying when I came to the US. I was not popular at all," he said. "There was the usual sexuality-related stuff, people calling me gay. When I'd say I danced, people would act like I was diseased. I was beaten up. It hurt and was very upsetting."

However, the "DWTS" star refused to give up his passion, and with encouragement from his family, he kept dancing. "I had an amazing support system. My parents told me that if you believe in what you do, you can prove people wrong with your success," he said.

Now, still a hot contender on the ABC show's eleventh season, it appears that Chmerkovsky is getting the last laugh.