Alexa PenaVega and husband Carlos PenaVega became the first married couple to compete on Dancing With the Stars in 2015 — and the experience still haunts them, for better or worse.
“Guys, Dancing With the Stars sucked for my wife and it was my fault,” Carlos, 37, confessed during the Thursday, October 22, episode of the couple’s “LexLos” podcast, recalling their joint experience on season 21 of the ABC competition series.
Alexa, 38, didn’t disagree, responding, “Honestly, yeah.”
Carlos, who was partnered with Witney Carson, admitted, “I was jealous of her and her partner,” who was pro Mark Ballas.
The Big Time Rush singer then teased, “I beat my wife on Dancing with the Stars,” before admitting, “I got further than her and it came with a lot of baggage, good and bad baggage.”
Alexa was a little surprised by her husband’s “baggage” comment, but he reminded her, “Was the show not difficult? Did it not come with stress? Was it not hard losing to your [husband]?” to which she nodded.
The Spy Kids actress noted that her experience on the show “was as good as it was bad,” after making it to week 9 when both she and Carlos were in the bottom two but she was the one ultimately sent home. (Carlos ended up in fourth place, while Alexa ended in sixth.)
Alexa admitted that Carlos’ jealousy did taint how much fun she had in the ballroom, saying that they are “in such a great place in our relationship now” but looking back it wasn’t an ideal situation.
“I would have had so much more fun on the show were it not for Carlos. Carlos was really competitive and very jealous,” she continued.
Carlos acknowledged that he had a hard time dealing with his wife dancing so closely with another man 10 hours a day — even though he was doing the same thing with another woman — and he couldn’t “imagine” how he’d feel if he was stuck at home during the process.
“Thank God we did it together, because I would not have been able to handle it,” he said.
Alexa pointed out, “You couldn’t handle it and we did do it together.”
Despite the ups and downs, the pair ultimately agreed that they “had a great time” and would do it again, especially because Alexa said it shined a light on how being married is a gift and not a burden.
“So many people see marriage as this ball and chain and they don’t see the beauty in it,” Alexa shared. “Love you Mark, but [Carlos] is my real partner.”
Carlos added, “We had so much fun together, and then it was over. It was hard, but what an experience we got to do together.”
Carlos and Alexa tied the knot in 2014, competing against each other on DWTS the following year. They have since welcomed four children: Ocean, 9, Kingston, 7, Rio, 5, and Indy, who was stillborn in April 2024.
The couple have also continued to work side by side, including costarring in Hallmark’s Picture Perfect Mysteries, as well as rom-com Love in the Limelight and Great American Family’s Mr. Manhattan and Get Him Back for Christmas.
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
