He’s one of the hottest imports to the United States since Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias… And, now William Levy is getting the of-the-moment celebrity treatment with his first People magazine cover and feature story…

The 31-year-old Cuban actor and hunky heartthrob, who is currently setting hearts aflutter on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, opens up about his journey from “dirt poor to sexy star” in his cover story.

“To come to this country and receive this kind of love from people you don’t even know, it’s amazing,” he tells People.

Levy—a father of two – to son Christopher, 6, and daughter Kailey, 2, with on-and-off girlfriend Elizabeth Gutiérrez—discusses his early lean years in Cuba before emigrating to the United States at 15.

“I try to give my kids everything I never had,” says Levy, who first caught America’s attention when he starred in Jennifer Lopez’s “I’m Into You” video.

But it’s not all serious talk, Levy even discusses his sizzling sex appeal… Levy boasts what his DWTS partner Cheryl Burke calls “12-pack abs.” And his fans have taken definite notice.

“I have never heard it that loud in there,” Burke says of the deafening roar that fills the ballroom when Levy takes the floor. “He’s like a rock star!”

Along with competing on Dancing with the Stars, Levy is making his English-language television acting debut on VH1’s Single Ladies.

For the full story on William Levy, pick up this week’s issue of People, on newsstands Friday