Alix Earle Candidly Admits She Can’t Complete Her DWTS Routine Without Heaving

8 September 2025

Alix Earle. Credit : Alix Earle/TikTok

Alix Earle, TikTok star and podcast host celebrated for her unfiltered “Get Ready with Me” videos and dubbed one of Forbes' Top Creators has traded swipeable content for sequins and dance steps as she prepares to debut on Dancing with the Stars Season 34. At a recent press preview, she offered revealing honesty that unfolds the real-life grit behind the glamor of reality TV.

In a TikTok she shared that though she and pro Val Chmerkovskiy have finally nailed their dance from start to finish she still can’t complete it without slowing to a breathless pause. It was a moment of vulnerability that instantly resonated with fans. She admitted, I can’t do the whole dance from start to finish without heaving, adding with a half laugh that she might need to lace up her running shoes. As she joked, even fifteen seconds of choreography leaves her needing to sit on the floor and catch her breath.

This raw moment came amid a whirlwind of rehearsals and late-night runs. Earle revealed she’d managed only three hours of sleep before the event humorously confessing she felt delusional by day’s end, mentally checked out if not for Chmerkovskiy’s upbeat presence. His easy humor and steady encouragement kept her grounded in the chaos of performance prep.

It’s a surprising confession from someone millions admire for effortless beauty and poise on the red carpet. A former high school competitive dancer, this is her first foray into ballroom dancing or partnering in choreography yet she’s diving in full throttle. Fans first learned she would be stepping onto the ballroom floor back in May during a Good Morning America appearance where she revealed a lifelong dream to join the show. Since then, her behind-the-scenes content has only heightened anticipation.

Her inclusion marks her as the second confirmed contestant for the season, following the announcement of conservative celebrity Robert Irwin. The cast, revealed more fully this week, includes names from all areas of entertainment, from Hilaria Baldwin to Lauren Jauregui, turning the show into a cross-section of pop culture faces.

Alix’s energy equal parts enthusiasm, anxiety, and candid humor is emblematic of why she’s become such a compelling influencer. In another TikTok, she embraced the challenge of learning new steps, attempting trending “whisk” moves, and drawing sweet encouragement from professional dancers who responded with affectionate praise.

Season 34 of DWTS premieres on September 16 on ABC and Disney+, with next-day streaming on Hulu, a live simulcast event marking the show’s third airing across both networks, and celebrating its 20th anniversary in the process. Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough return as hosts supported by trusted judges including Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli.

Back to Alix preparing behind the curtain: for her, this journey seems equal parts physical endurance and emotional discovery. She moves from virtual edits to actual performance, from staged makeovers to choreographed movement transforming internet momentum into tangible art. It’s where her relatable commentary meets demanding discipline. The “heaving” admission doesn’t diminish her, it humanizes her. It reminds us that for creators and celebrities alike, dreams don’t just arrive, they are earned, step by breathless step.