Hilaria Baldwin’s ‘Mystical’ Leap Into Dancing With the Stars
The Baldwin family is officially trading New York for Hollywood — at least for a while. Hilaria Baldwin, yoga devotee, author, and star of TLC’s The Baldwins, has just been announced as one of the newest contestants on Season 34 of Dancing With the Stars.
The September 3rd cast reveal wasn’t just a professional milestone for Hilaria, 41 — it was a family affair. Alongside husband Alec Baldwin and their seven children, she’ll be making the big move to Los Angeles for the season.
“I’m bringing everybody,” Hilaria told USA Today. “We just decided to do something crazy and that we’d all go to L.A.”
For fans of The Baldwins reality series, there won’t be cameras rolling this time around. TLC hasn’t renewed the show for a second season. Instead, the spotlight will be firmly on Hilaria as she steps onto the iconic ballroom floor.
The Season 34 Cast: A Star-Studded Mix
Hilaria joins a surprisingly eclectic cast this season. Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles, former NBA point guard Baron Davis, child-star-turned-actor Corey Feldman, and Zac Efron’s younger brother Dylan Efron are all strapping on their dancing shoes. Add in Conan O’Brien’s former sidekick Andy Richter and Parent Trap actress Elaine Hendrix, and you’ve got a lineup as unpredictable as it is entertaining.
They’ll be competing alongside previously announced contestants like Robert Irwin, TikTok dance influencer Alix Earle, and reality TV personalities Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
And for Hilaria, her partner is none other than fan-favorite pro dancer Gleb Savchenko.
Hilaria’s Path to the Ballroom
Unlike many DWTS contestants who arrive as complete dance beginners, Hilaria brings a unique background to the competition. She’s been dancing since childhood and even competed with New York University’s ballroom team. Yet, she insists this was never part of a master plan.
Over the past year, fans may have noticed her playful TikTok routines with Alec, sometimes silly and sometimes surprisingly polished. Those lighthearted videos — which she says were meant only for fun — caught the attention of DWTS producers.
“It’s a kind of mystical journey that got me here,” Hilaria reflected. “I was just having fun. And I’ve been part of this world for only about a week-and-a-half.”
Still, she admits she hesitated at first. For years, Alec encouraged her to consider the show, but she worried her prior ballroom experience might actually be a disadvantage. “I didn’t know if I belonged in this space,” she confessed. “I’ve got a lot of experience. Is that a problem? Apparently, it’s not.”
The Challenges Ahead
Hilaria’s road to the Mirrorball Trophy won’t be an easy one. While her ballroom background gives her an edge, she’s quick to point out the gaps in her training. Latin dances, in particular, are not her strength. On top of that, she carries the weight of a serious hip injury from 16 years ago — the very reason she walked away from competitive dancing in the first place.
“I closed the door on that part of my life,” she said. “I started focusing on yoga, met Alec, and we started having kids. My body is different now.”
And then there’s the court of public opinion. The Baldwins are no strangers to controversy, from Alec’s outspoken political views to the tragic Rust film set shooting in 2021. For Hilaria, however, the ballroom isn’t about silencing critics.
“Everybody these days has their critics, whether they’re in the spotlight or not,” she shared. “I’ve learned in my 40s that if you go through life trying to prove things to people, then you’re missing the point and you’re missing being present.”
A Fresh Chapter for the Baldwin Family
For Hilaria, this season of DWTS feels like more than just a TV gig — it’s a chance to write a new chapter for herself and her family after a series of difficult years.
“You collect the good and the bad in life along the way,” she said. “We’re all looking forward.”
With Alec and the kids cheering from the sidelines, her TikTok-turned-“mystical” ballroom journey is about to play out under the bright lights of Hollywood. Whether she wins the coveted Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy or not, one thing is certain: this season, all eyes will be on Hilaria Baldwin.
