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Scripps National Spelling Bee contestant to compete on 'Dancing with the Stars: Juniors'

Posted at 9:10 PM, Sep 25, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-25 21:10:44-04

Scripps National Spelling Bee contestant Akash Vukoti will be among a dozen young celebrities to compete on "Dancing with the Stars: Juniors," which will debut on ABC on Oct. 7. 

Vukoti has competed twice in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. He first competed in 2016 as a 6-year-old. 

Leading up to his appearance in the 2016 Bee, Vukoti gained worldwide fame, and was featured on hit TV programs such as "Little Big Shots" hosted by Steve Harvey. Following his 2016 Bee appearance, he teamed up with Jimmy Kimmel for a spelling competition on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

After failing to qualify for the 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee, he returned to the Bee in 2018, earning a spot as a wild card. 

Vukoti will be joined by the following young stars:

Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson
Miles Brown
Hudson West
Sophua Pippen
Ariana Greenblatt
Sky Brown
Tripp Palin
Mandla Morris
Jason Maybaum
Kenzie Ziegler
Addison Osta Smith

Jordan Fisher and Frankie Muniz, both Season 25 finalists of the grown-up version of DWTS, will split hosting duties. In the juniors edition, each star will be paired with another youth professional dancer and a mentor among the professionals who perform on DWTS. 

Adam Rippon, Mandy Moore and Val Chmerkovskiy will serve as the program's judges.