Cheryl Burke Reacts To 'Dancing With The Stars' Return: 'It's So Special To Go Back Home'

Cheryl Burke sure knows where home is, and she wants her fans to know, too!

The pro dancer is returning to "Dancing With the Stars" as a figure of authority, calling the shots from the judge's chair after her exit three years ago, and she has a list of things she would be looking out for.

Cheryl Burke's "DWTS" comeback followed her flaunting her 35-pound weight loss and fighting off false reports about how she achieved it.

The former ballroom dancer could not contain her excitement to finally return to the studio after three years away from any activity. According to the TV star, "It's so special to go back home, I guess, to a place where I have spent most of my life in that ballroom."

Burke will now be returning to the show as a guest judge for the Halloween episode, and authenticity tops the list for what she hopes to see in contestants while she sits to determine their fate.

She noted that her wealth of knowledge in ballroom dancing will allow her to see through techniques being employed and make her deductions from an expert perspective.

"I will be looking for techniques that are executed the right way that have been written in technique books, because that's just what I know, right? So I'm going to focus and stay in my lane as far as that goes," Burke stressed.

She told US Weekly that, while she might be a very emotional dancer, she is not about to base her judgment on that. Instead, she looked forward to experiencing the imperfections that make ballroom dancing so unique and to not seeing passion overpower the dance.

Burke established that her return was not unexpected, as she had been in talks with the producers for years about returning to the show. She described the feeling of sitting on the other side of the judge's table as surreal and hoped to empower the couples she would be watching and judging.

The dancer also noted that several aspects of the show have changed over the years, including the fandom and their approach to evaluating it. Acknowledging the impact of TikTok in the mix, Burke declared:

"I must say, these people really are convincing me that they're ballroom experts, and it's fascinating to see the community that has been built."

She also expressed her anticipation of meeting the rest of the judges for the first time on Tuesday night. According to Burke, "DWTS" remains a family affair, and even though it has been three years since she last danced on the show, it would still feel very lovely to be home.

The model had a great run on the show before her emotional exit a few years ago, and she had a detailed list of everyone who helped make her memories on the show super delightful. As stated by The Blast, her journey on the show birthed several memorable performances and two Mirrorball Trophies.

From Emmitt Smith to Rob Kardashian and Drew Lachey, Burke had a great time wiggling through the ballroom. She reminisced about her time with Kardashian on season 13 in 2011, when their chemistry took them to the runner-up spot.

She also described her time with Jack Osbourne on season 17 in 2013, another unforgettable period in her career. "These two men — they're totally not what you would expect, especially nowadays. Jack is sober. And I just love the fact that we got along and they didn't take themselves too seriously," Burke shared.

The media personality shone a light on the nature of Osbourne and Kardashian's upbringing as reality stars, which helped them gain ample knowledge of how to work the cameras and maintain their composure.

Burke embarked on a weight-loss transformation after leaving the show, spinning narratives that portrayed her as using weight-loss medications to hasten her journey. However, for every present, there is always a past, with body dysmorphia reeling all over it in Burke's case.

In a report by The Blast, the former professional dancer recalled the condition rearing its head very slowly as she advanced through several seasons of "DWTS," wardrobe change by wardrobe change, fitting by fitting. 

Burke confessed that the pressure of fitting into dresses half her size and the craze to meet perfection on the show really took a nasty toll on her mental health. 

"I don't blame the show by any means, but it's just the name of the game...squeezing into these costumes. It would affect me so much that I would weigh myself constantly. I would travel with a scale. That's crazy," the media personality added. 

These days, the ballroom dancer indulges in healthy dietary practices, such as following meal plans and overhauling her eating habits.

The 41-year-old credited her 35-pound weight loss to hard work, rather than any dangerous surgical procedures. She emphasized that her transformation had stayed authentic without "nips, tucks, Ozempic."

Burke expressed hurt at being called a liar, despite maintaining utmost transparency, but concluded that feeling comfortable in her own skin trumped all her challenges.

She then slammed other women who derived pleasure from putting her down with their mean messages and comments. Burke reiterated that deciding to work on her weight does not detract from the fact that she promotes body positivity.

However, the criticisms only have power online, and once she shuts down her devices, it is back to the real world. According to her: “I honestly have no interest in really clapping back more than I already have.”

Welcome back home, Cheryl Burke!