Hilaria Baldwin Doubles Down Defending 'DWTS' Casting: 'I’m A Hard Worker'

Hilaria Baldwin remains adamant that her casting on "Dancing With The Stars" was an opportunity that fell into her lap without any backroom deals.

The entertainer, best known as the wife of Hollywood veteran Alec Baldwin, has faced multiple speculations about her participation in the televised dance competition. However, she has denied any claims that she used her celebrity status to secure her spot.

Hilaria Baldwin was announced as a contestant on season 34 of "DWTS" in September 2025. She partnered with professional dancer Gleb Savchenko for the show, and she has been vocal about how taxing the experience has been.

Hilaria addressed her participation in the dance show during a recent appearance on the "Not Skinny But Not Fat" podcast, hosted by Amanda Hirsch. She doubled down on earning her spot without using her celebrity status or her husband's connections.

The media personality claimed she would feel like she deserved her spot in the competition if Alec had used his influence to sway showrunners. "I'm a hard worker. I want to earn things on my own merit," Hilaria stressed.

Hilaria noted she valued earning things for herself because anyone married to a celebrity would frequently be accused of using their spouse's influence. When Hirsch used the term "nepo wife," the entertainer agreed, saying:

"Right. It makes you feel like you don't earn things, which is just a horrible feeling. Especially as a Capricorn, a horrible feeling."

Hilaria claimed she was far from a "nepo wife," noting her independence was one of the things that drove her husband "crazy." Despite Alec's desire for her to lean on him more often, Hilaria applauded his consistent support and encouragement for her solo ventures.

The TV personality claimed Alec always knew she was meant to be on the dance show, recalling that he pushed her to join for a "very long time." Hilaria noted she never considered participating in the dance competition because she believed fans wouldn't want to see her performances.

However, when showrunners approached her with an offer to join season 34, she was ready to say yes. "I am happy that it happened in the way that it happened. It was so organic," Hilaria raved.

She added that she tried to focus on the positive while ignoring the criticisms and hate she got for her time on the show.

Before her recent podcast appearance, The Blast shared that Hilaria had addressed the speculations surrounding her participation in the dance show. She shut down the narrative that claimed she had campaigned for her spot on the program by uploading dance videos with Alec on TikTok.

"That's actually not true. I did not campaign. It was, like, not on my radar," Hilaria explained in a September interview. She claimed showrunners reached out to her days before the cast was announced, and she made a last-minute decision to join.

Hilaria backed up her claims of not planning her participation in the show by noting that her family had hurriedly moved to Los Angeles so she could join the cast. The campaign narrative started when Julianne Hough believed her dance videos were used to catch the attention of showrunners and "DWTS" fans.

Although Hilaria had some dancing experience, The Blast reported that she confessed her past performances were less taxing than her routines for the dance show. She explained that it was more challenging to hit these moves as a woman in her forties, saying:

"It is like visiting a familiar friend when you're older, and you've had a lot of children, and broken some bones, if you can relate to that."

Hilaria noted her professional dance partner, Savchenko, had introduced her to a new world of sophisticated moves that challenged her. However, she chose to push her body beyond the limits rather than accept defeat.

Following the announcement of her participation in the dance competition, Hilaria lost her beloved dog, Dama. The Blast covered the story, reporting that she and Alec mourned the loss of their family's pet in a joint Instagram post.

Hilaria reflected on the joy Dama brought into their lives, recalling how the dog loved sleeping on her pregnant belly. She noted the pet's passing saddened the family, but they found comfort in the time they spent with the dog.

The heartwarming tribute was accompanied by a carousel of images depicting Dama's time with the couple. Hilaria hoped their treasured pet was at peace and "running through the fields" of heaven, a sentiment echoed by fans in the comment section.

Will Hilaria Baldwin continue to face speculations about her participation on "DWTS?"