Who Is Terra Jolé? 5 Things You Need to Know About the History-Making 'DWTS' Contestant

Terra Jolé is hoping to snatch the ABC hit's coveted Mirrorball Trophy in season 23

Photo: Terra Jole/Instagram

Terra Jolé is making history on season 23 of Dancing with the Stars as the first little person ever to be featured on the hit ABC dancing competition.

The 36-year-old Little Women: LA star will try to get her hands on the famed Mirrorball Trophy with the help of pro Sasha Farber.

Here are 5 things you need to know about Jolé.

1. She’s married to Joe Gnoffo.
Jolé and her husband tied the knot on June 21, 2015, in a “country chic” themed wedding.

The affair aired on Little Women: Terra’s Little Family – Jolé’s spin-off series.

“The most memorable moment for me was having my family around on this important date,” she told PEOPLE at the time. “It meant the world to me.”

2. Her turn on DWTS comes just weeks after she gave birth to her second child.
On Aug. 1, Jolé gave birth to her second child, Grayson Vincent Gnoffo, who weighed in at 7 lbs., 10 oz., and measured 19¾ in. long. (Grayson is the little brother to Penelope Charlevoix Gnoffo, who was born in March 2015.)

“Our Penny became a big sister,” Jolé told PEOPLE at the time. “Joe and I fell in love with the most perfect baby boy. It’s especially wonderful to have the first male child in the family that will carry on our last name.”

3. Her daughter had to have spinal surgery.
In the second season premiere of Little Women: Terra’s Little Family, Jolé opened up to viewers about what she went through as Penny underwent spinal decompression surgery.

The emotional procedure for her “miracle baby” – who is also a little person – had Jolé trying to put on a brave face despite her fear.

“I don’t see how any parent goes through this,” she said through tears in the episode. “I want to put on a strong face for Penelope because she can read that. She can tell when you’re scared … and she looks at me and she starts crying.”

All thankfully went well for Penelope. The new parents told PEOPLE at the time that they hope Penelope will find normality as she grows up.

“She just happens to be a little person,” Gnoffo said. “Other than that, she’s going to be able to do whatever she wants. When you’re a kid, it’s the end of the world when someone makes fun of you. I just want her to be confident.”

“I want her to feel like it’s okay to be different,” added Jolé.

4. Her dancing could be a tribute to her late father.
Like any bride, the final weeks leading up to Jolé’s wedding were stressful as can be – but there was an extra layer of emotion underpinning her big day: Jolé was still processing the loss of her father, Richard Odmark, who died in October 2013.

“It’s really hard not having him here on a moment like my wedding and Penelope’s birth and just life moments,” she told viewers on her series.

Jolé wasn’t alone won her big day, of course, Her brother, Bourn, walked her down the aisle.

5.She was on RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Dancing with the Stars won’t be the only non-Lifetime reality show on which Jolé has appeared.

She made a visit to Logo’s hit series RuPaul’s Drag Race back in its eighth season for a trip down the runway during the show’s makeover challenge.

All while Jolé’s Queen didn’t win the task at hand, she didn’t seem to mind, raving about the makeover to host RuPaul. Something tells us she’ll be ready for sequins and fringe in no time!

Season 23 of Dancing with the Stars premieres Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Little Women: LA airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m.