Gilles Marini Sworn in As New U.S. Citizen! "It's Fantastic, I'm an American"

The United States officially got about a thousand times hotter this week.

Gilles Marini, beloved runner-up on Dancing With the Stars Season 8, was sworn in Wednesday as a U.S. citizen.

Gilles was born in France to a Greek mother and an Italian father and came to L.A. in 2002.

"It's very difficult to express what I feel just because it's 10 years in the making," Gilles told OnTheRedCarpet.com. "I've been working really hard and I adore this country, so for me it means really something very special. You get choked up, you know? It's fantastic. I'm an American. So I have to speak with less accent. Oops." (No, we love your accent!)

Gilles also proudly tweeted a form letter from President Barack Obama congratulating him on being a new citizen. "That is the most important letter I ever had ;) Thanks to @BarackObama . Yes, surreal but now I am American citizen !"

Congratulations, Gilles! We hope to see your American spirit in action on the new All-Stars season.

Sources: On the Red Carpet (via @DWTSGossip), Twitter