I never intentionally watch Dancing With The Stars.  I find the host Tom Bergeron to be one of the most annoying men ever to be on television. He doubles as the America’s Funniest Home Videos host if you are unfamiliar with his name. I did catch part of the show this week. I am no dancing expert but I like the chances of Joey Fatone and Apollo Ono.

The first to be booted off this reality dancing competition is Czech-born Paulina Porizkova. She is a former supermodel and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model. She was one of the first music video vixens appearing in The Cars 1984 video ‘drive’. She went on to and is still married to singer Ric Ocasek of the group.  Paulina was very popular among her peers on the show.

Despite harsh critiques from the judges’ table, “it’s been a great experience,” Porizkova, 41, told PEOPLE after Tuesday’s show. “I made tons of new friends! We’ve had so much fun, just laughing endlessly.”

“She’s a really cool woman,” adds Heather Mills, whose daughter Beatrice had play dates with Porizkova’s step-grandchildren. “I just felt very sad because we really wanted her to stay.”

Mills wasn’t alone. “Paulina was just so sweet and charismatic,” says Laila Ali. “We have a couple of funny ones in [the group]. She was definitely one of them.”