Lil' Kim Dazzles on Dance Show

Rapper Lil' Kim dazzled U.S. television viewers on Monday night, when she showed off her fancy footwork for the first time on talent show Dancing With The Stars.

The Lady Marmalade hitmaker danced the Cha-cha-cha to a remixed version of Janet Jackson's 1986 hit record Nasty in a thigh-high, tummy-baring beaded dress, beating out nine of the show's other 12 contestants with a top score of 21 out of 30.

Before taking to the dancefloor, the star credited her former fellow inmates at the Philadelphia jail where she served time in 2005, with inspiring her performance.

Kim, who was jailed for perjury, said, "I'm the kind of person who's always taken on challenges in my life to push myself to be better. I've dedicated my first dance to all my girls in the federal detention centre."

The rapper's performance was cheered on by the audience - which included singer Jewel and U.S. TV personality Nancy O'Dell, whose injuries forced them to pull out of the show at the last minute.