Alexa PenaVega Says Husband Carlos' Jealousy Made DWTS an Uphill Battle
Alexa PenaVega and Carlos PenaVega revisit their 2015 Dancing With the Stars face-off, with Carlos admitting he felt jealous watching Alexa dance with pro Mark Ballas — a confession they unpack in the April 26 episode of their Two Be Continued podcast.
Back in 2015, Alexa PenaVega and Carlos PenaVega did the thing most couples wisely avoid: they went head-to-head on ABC's Dancing With the Stars. On the Sunday, April 26 episode of their "Two Be Continued" podcast, they finally unpacked what that was actually like — the jealousy, the long rehearsals, and the whole flirty-on-camera vibe that looks one way on TV and feels very different in real life.
The jealousy part (and why doing it together helped)
Carlos, 36, admits he did not love watching his wife, 37, spend marathon rehearsal days with her pro partner Mark Ballas, 39. He says competing the same season — season 21 — ended up saving him from stewing at home while she logged 12-hour dance sessions with someone else.
"It was a blessing."
His point: if Alexa had done the show without him, he would have been at home, TV on, imagining worst-case scenarios. Doing it side by side let him stay close, check in on her routines, and understand the grind up close. Alexa doesn't sugarcoat it either — she says he was very jealous of the time she spent with Ballas.
What those 'intimate' rehearsals actually feel like
Carlos says the dances might read steamy on camera, but learning them is mostly stress and sweat. You are counting steps and trying not to blow it, not floating through some sensual montage.
Alexa's very different experience
Alexa loved being on the show, but she also says Carlos's insecurities back then made her run tougher. She struggled to focus the way she wanted to and now wishes she had communicated better in the moment. Both of them agree they would handle the exact same situation very differently today — and probably have a lot more fun with it.
As Alexa puts it, that show can be rough on a relationship. And honestly, if you've watched DWTS long enough, that tracks.
How it ended on the leaderboard
Alexa finished sixth. Carlos placed fourth with pro Witney Carson.
Their timeline, because it all moved fast
- 2012: They meet and start dating.
- August 2013: Engagement.
- January 2014: Wedding.
- 2015: Both compete on DWTS season 21 on ABC — Alexa with Mark Ballas, Carlos with Witney Carson; Alexa places sixth, Carlos fourth.
- December 2016: Son Ocean is born (now 9).
- June 2019: Son Kingston arrives (now 6).
- May 2021: Daughter Rio is born (now 4).
- April 2024: They share the stillbirth of their second daughter, Indy.
Bottom line: DWTS gave them great TV, a reality check on boundaries, and a story they can finally laugh about on a podcast — or at least see differently now.