With her warm blond hair, bronzed skin kissed from the Miami sun, and crystal blue eyes, 24-year-old Alix Earle has not only taken TikTok by storm but also “Dancing with the Stars” (DWTS). Known for her “Hot Mess podcast,” YouTube channel, lifestyle vlogs, and for being a fashion icon, Alix Earle took the world by surprise when it was announced that she was going to be on “DWTS.” All the way from U Miami to the studio of “DWTS,” Alix Earle came to blow her competition out of the water. From her party days to learning difficult dances with ease, Alix has shown she is not only the party animal and fashionista we all know and love.
Though many may know Alix as just a TikTok star, her open and positive view she has shared about insecurities is an important representation of vulnerability and struggles that many people also experience. She has shared not only makeup and skin care vlogs but also her struggles with acne, anxiety, and insecurity, demonstrating how everyone has their own struggles. Now on a much bigger stage, Alix can share how determination and hard work allow you to achieve the things you aspire to, while also bringing a younger audience to “DWTS.” She has successfully crossed over from just being an influencer to a traditional celebrity. Sparking my interest in KO students’ opinions on her transition from influencer to dancer, as I have been a fan of Alix for a while. I reached out to Freshman Valerie Perkins, Senior speaker Olivia Pilecki, Sophomore Ginger Graham, and Sophomore Hudson Walters to get multiple KO students’ opinions.
On the newest season of “DWTS,” Alix Earle and her professional partner Val Chmerkovskiy have been exceeding expectations. Val is a 39-year-old professional dancer and has won “DWTS” three times, highlighting his talent and commitment to the show. Alix joined the show because she is a longtime fan of “DWTS” and always had a passion for dancing. This opportunity gave her a chance to pursue that dream. Thanks to their long hours of practice and dedication, they have made it all the way to the semi-finals. Throughout the season, a few dances have been fan favorites, including her Maleficent-themed dance, “Wicked” Night, and her latest dance, which celebrated the 20th anniversary of “DWTS.”
Valerie Perkins, a committed “DWTS” viewer and supporter of Alix, shared that her favorite performance so far has been Alix’s performance as Maleficent. “I think I’ve watched it 30 times,” she said. “I didn’t expect her to be that good. She was fully committed and played the role. I loved it.” Olivia and Ginger agreed that Alix’s Maleficent dance stood out to them the most.
Another fan favorite dance was Alix and Val’s “Wicked,” performance. Alix stood in pink lighting, looking like a princess, and on the other side, emerald green shone down on Val. In her hand was a dainty pink notebook and a pink feather pen, while Val held a green pen with a green notebook. Alix’s silky blonde hair was curled with a side part, fitted in a pretty pink dress with a V-neck outlined in shiny pink gems. Val dressed in a matching green striped pants and vest, with a light green silk shirt underneath. They danced together in a dramatic way that highlighted the relationship between Glinda and Elphaba from the movie Wicked. Olivia commented on Alix’s dance technique, “ I think she’s doing a lot better than I expected. I thought she was gonna be more stiff and awkward, but she surprised me,” she said. “Her technique and everything have definitely gotten better, and I think she’s becoming a great entertainer as well.”
On Disney week, Alix stepped confidently onto the stage with Val, preparing to dance a Viennese Waltz. A black, glistening horn sprouted from her head, and a midnight black gown draped over her body, hugging her around the neck and capturing the perfect essence of Maleficent. One of Disney’s most popular villains, Maleficent, who stars in “Sleeping Beauty,” is known for her dark presence and for the curse she placed on Aurora. Val resembled a knight in shining armor, fitted in a brown leather shirt, topped off with black shiny boots. Alix’s dance moves portrayed the role of Maleficent perfectly, as in a controlled way, she moved her hands in perfect synchronization with the dance movements of Val, like a puppet on strings. Alix strode to the middle of the dance floor, where she and Val came together to begin their waltz, which beautifully captured Maleficent’s journey and struggle of falling in love with a human boy named Stefan.
And, we can’t forget their perfect score performance. On the 20th celebration of “DWTS,” Alix and Val knocked it out of the park with a fiery foxtrot dance. Alix and Val descend from the stairs on opposite sides to come together hand-in-hand, center stage. Val was dressed up in a sparkly white moon-like tux with a black bow tie and black dress pants. Alix had her hair short in a curled bob with a bright red lip. She was covered in a white, backless ball gown with feathers and sparkles glimmering like stars, tied together with a beautiful, blinding diamond choker and silky white gloves. This duo scored perfectly in their beautifully rehearsed and perfectly executed foxtrot. This dance was flawless and pushed Alix and Val into the semi-finals. Hudson provided helpful insight on the mindset Alix and Val need to have to be successful in the semi-finals. He explained, “ I think they try not to get too cocky because you get a perfect score. You think you’re the best, but that’s when it really comes to bite you.”
Alix has created a large following through TikTok and Instagram. Due to her large fan base, she has attracted her fans to “DWTS” to support her. Many people have mixed opinions on her being on the show, including students here at Kingswood Oxford. Both Valerie and Olivia were excited when they heard that Alix was going to be on DWTS. Olivia explained how she knew who Alix was through TikTok, but her appearance on the show allowed for a different side of Alix to be brought into the light. “I knew a little bit about her from TikTok and that she was a UMiami graduate who posted a lot about partying,” Olivia said. “ So, not necessarily the greatest impression of her, but her appearance on Dancing with the Stars definitely gave me more of an insight into her and how she is as a person outside of partying.”
Valerie added that Alix being on “DWTS” shifted her opinion of her for the better. “ It humanized her more than what most people see when she goes to fashion weeks, and to all these red carpets,” she said. “Then, with her being on Dancing with the Stars, and seeing the rehearsals, it shows that she is a person, and she struggles with things. So I think it humanizes her more.”
Alix being on “DWTS” allows people to get to know her better as a person, but it also benefits her. DWTS has a large audience worldwide, bringing Alix to a bigger stage. Hudson explained how he thinks her time on DWTS could affect her career moving forward. “I think that it definitely exposes her to a bigger audience and can kind of skyrocket her fame,” he said. “And depending on how she does, it can drastically change her career trajectory.”
