Alexa PenaVega wants a do-over! She competed against her husband, Carlos PenaVega, on Season 21 of DWTS. While the show has sparked many relationships between the pros and contestants, Alexa and Carlos were the first married celebrities to compete against each other on the show. A decade later, she finally admitted that her husband’s “jealousy” over her partnership with Mark Ballas ruined her experience on the reality show. Keep reading for more details on the situation.
PenaVagas Spill Dirt On Backstage Feud
With a new season of DWTS airing, many former contestants are reflecting on their time on the ABC reality show. Alexa and Carlos PenaVega recently spilled about a secret feud between their pro dance partners, Mark Ballas and Witney Carson. But Witney Carson wasn’t meant to dance with Carlos at first.
He revealed on the couple’s LexLos podcast that Karina Smirnoff was his original partner. However, the Hallmark star requested to change partners because he was “intimidated” by Karina. He described Witney as “bubbly and fun.”
Karina was partnered with professional jockey Victor Espinoza. They were sent home in Week 2. Carlos PenaVega made it to the finals, finishing in fourth place. His wife was eliminated in Week 9, and she admitted it was his fault.
Alexa PenaVega Admits Husband’s ‘Jealousy’ Ruined DWTS Experience
Mark Ballas is one of the most coveted pro dancers on DWTS. He was specifically requested by Season 35 contestant Maura Higgins. His Season 34 partner, Whitney Leavitt, was excited to work with him. However, Carlos PenaVega was not happy to see his wife paired with Mark.
“I would have had so much more fun on the show were it not for Carlos. Carlos was really competitive and very jealous,” Alexa PenaVega said on their podcast. He responded that he was glad they competed together because he wouldn’t have been able to handle it if she was rehearsing alone with Mark Ballas for hours while he sat at home.
“You couldn’t handle it and we did do it together,” Alexa quipped. She admitted that it wasn’t fair to Mark Ballas. “Looking back now, even watching our elimination, it made me sad for Mark,” she said. “I was so worried about catering to you and your feelings, I left Mark in the dust over and over again.”
Alexa and Carlos PenaVega said that their marriage is stronger today than it was in 2015 when they were on DWTS. However, his attitude ruined the experience for his wife and it’s unlikely she’ll get another chance. Do you remember him being overly possessive during Season 21? Let us know, and tune in to DWTS Tuesdays on ABC at 8 PM Eastern.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger