Kelly Monaco Offers Dancing with the Stars Advice

Kelly Monaco has some advice for the latest crop of celebrities foxtrotting into the Dancing With the Stars ballroom.

The soap actress and first-season champion recently told The Associated Press on the set of General Hospital that she thinks the sixth-season participants should "put `Extra' and `TMZ' ... aside. They're there to have fun and learn how to dance. It should be something really personal."

Monaco, who's played Sam McCall on General Hospital since 2003, won the first season of the competition in 2005 — and remains the show's only female champion.

She lost to runner-up John O'Hurley during a 90-minute "dance-off" rematch that was determined solely by viewer votes.

"I'm just happy I did it when I did it," Monaco said. "Back then, I think there was some innocence in the process. It wasn't too skewed or manipulated. The downside now is that contestants are going in with this scheme of what the show can and can't do to build a career. I'm glad I wasn't part of that chaos."

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.