Rolling Out: When did you know that you were going to be a designer?
Christensen: I just fell into it. When I moved to Phoenix, Arizona back in 1979 and started teaching competitive ballroom dancing … I just started making costumes for my students and my professional partner …
Ro: How do you come together with celebrities and dancers each week to create the costumes?
Christensen: Every Tuesday night after the results show, the couples get their music and dance assignment for the next week and thats when the mayhem usually starts. They’re all trying to run up to the wardrobe room to try to lock in the color [and the style] before someone else. I’ve even got them calling from the elevator. When I get to them I only have 10 to 15 minutes to work with them … its a lot of pressure on the professional dancer as well as me, because we’re trying to nail a look that cannot change after that design session.
Ro: Who has been your favorite cast member to date? 
Christensen: I loved Layla Ali, I thought she was a challenge because she [is] 5”10, 14 1/2 inch biceps — absolutely the most gorgeous creature I’ve dressed and she has the height to carry off everything. … She was trusting and willing to take my advice and listen … Layla would have to be one of my favorites.
Ro: Lil’ Kim is known for her lavish wardrobe. What do you do to make sure she keeps her larger than life image while on the dance floor?
Christensen: You know that lady just opens her mouth and the images just start coming with me. … I love dressing curvy women. Her height is a little bit of a challenge, but not much because that personality is larger than life, so we can get away with very little fabric and it works on her. She’s very trusting but has an eye [for fashion design]. There have been times when we’ve had a cut away and she [was] like ‘Can we move this over about another 1/2 inch?’ … and that 1/2 inch makes a difference. She knows her body and I think between that and trusting me, she just brings this energy that makes the air crackle. … She’s like a big diamond.
Ro: Rate your top 3 costumes thus far from this season.
Christensen: 1. Lil Kim’s silver dress from the very first show, she took my breath away with that little piece of nothing. 2. Gio Marini had the confidence to wear a red shirt, red pants, and dyed red shoes. That just says a lot about his confidence. 3. Lawrence Taylor — when he did the quick step in his black suit with red tie. That was about as suave as he could possibly look.
