By Kate Mulcrone
Special to MSN TV

Here it is, the season we've all been waiting for: An all-star cast of 13 past winners and contenders will take the stage to compete for the mirror-ball trophy. We've seen these celebrities dance before, but as far as I'm concerned, the slate is clean for a brand-new season of tangos, sambas and wardrobe malfunctions. Without further ado, let me reintroduce you to the Season 15 contestants:

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The Queen of Hearts: Kirstie Alley

The actress and Season 12 first runner-up is still burning up Twitter and seems awfully excited to be taking part in another season of "DWTS." Kirstie will once again be dancing with the temperamental Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Anyone who watched them together will remember that it's an explosive partnership: They may argue, but they also push each other to new heights as dancers. At 61, Kirstie is the oldest of this season's competitors, but you could do worse than to bet on her. She brings energy, creativity and a steely competitive spirit to this competition, and her legion of loyal Twitter followers is sure to be a great help come voting time.

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The Understudy: Pamela Anderson

Let's not mince words: Pamela Anderson has been typecast all her career as the bosomy blonde with a voice like honey. She started out her initial run on "DWTS" as expected, with a cha-cha that was fast and loose in any sense of those two words. However, as the season progressed, so did Pam's technique and her confidence, and the cutesy burlesque stuff went out the window. Her final dance, a grown-up, ladylike waltz, was well-received by the judges, and she impressed them week after week with her ability to embody the character of the dance she was performing. This season Pam will be dancing with relative newcomer Tristan MacManus, a truly exceptional addition to the troupe. Tristan's patience and panache combined with Pam's excellent stage presence and emotional range is a recipe for success.

The Comeback Kid: Sabrina Bryan

Sabrina was the first of the squeaky-clean Disney kids to compete for the mirror-ball trophy, and the journey didn't end well for her. Her performances were amazing during the first six weeks of the competition, yet she was eliminated due to a lack of votes. Sabrina's elimination is widely considered to be the most shocking in the show's long history. Sabrina brings a ton of energy to the floor, as well as a killer sense of rhythm. She's partnered up with Louis Van Amstel this season. He's a real Henry Higgins: Louis takes a step back and assesses his partners' strengths and weaknesses, then crafts routines that show them off at their best. In Sabrina, he just might find his most talented Eliza to date.

The Charmer: Helio Castroneves

This Season 5 champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 winner is still racing cars, but that doesn't mean he can't take a triumphant lap or two around the dance floor. He absolutely dazzled the first time he competed, showing tremendous range and stage presence. This season Helio will be dancing with Chelsie Hightower, who's known for pushing her partners just a little bit beyond their comfort zones. It's hard to see her meeting much resistance from the dashing Helio. The sky's the limit for these two!

The Loveable Underdog: Joey Fatone

'N Sync baritone and Season 4 runner-up Joey gave some truly memorable performances, including one of the best foxtrots this show has ever seen. This season, he will once again be dancing with Kym Johnson, who was the Season 9 champion. Their partnership always seemed pretty amiable, though Kym has said in recent interviews that she's "cracking the whip" this time around. It's been a while since Joey has seen a dance floor, so let's hope Kym's rehearsal regimen is as effective as she wants it to be.

The Ringer: Shawn Johnson

The Olympic gymnast and Season 8 champion just might be the one to beat. Shawn did suffer an injury after competing on "DWTS": She tore her ACL while skiing. Luckily, she's all healed up. Shawn is a nimble, versatile dancer, and she was a powerhouse all season long the last time around. She's been matched up with three-time champion Derek Hough, which shows just how confident the producers are that good things come in small packages.

The Singer: Drew Lachey

98 Degrees singer Drew took home the mirror-ball trophy in Season 2 and looked good doing it.

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