Giada De Laurentiis’ time on Dancing With the Stars Season 35 ended much earlier than she hoped, but the celebrity chef says she is leaving the ballroom with something more meaningful than a trophy.
Giada and professional partner Alan Bersten were eliminated during Viral Hits Night on September 22. The pair performed a salsa to Becky G’s “Bella Ciao,” receiving 4s from Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli for a total score of 12 out of 30.
Their elimination came after a difficult week of rehearsals. Viewers saw tension between Giada and Alan as she struggled with the routine, but the disagreement also showed how seriously Giada was taking the competition and how badly she wanted to improve.
When her elimination was announced, Giada kept her immediate reaction simple. She acknowledged that she had given the competition everything she could, saying, “I tried my best and it wasn’t best enough. But I tried my best.”
A day later, however, Giada had more to say. The 56-year-old thanked everyone who supported her throughout the experience, particularly the mothers who had reached out and shared their own stories with her. She said their messages had been deeply inspiring.
Giada also explained that she was proud to represent women in their 50s who are still willing to challenge themselves. Her message after leaving the competition was simple: people shouldn’t be afraid to try something that scares them, because pushing beyond their comfort zone can be incredibly rewarding.
That message goes back to the reason Giada agreed to do DWTS in the first place. She had previously turned down opportunities to compete, but this time her 18-year-old daughter, Jade, encouraged her to take the risk.
Jade had recently started college at New York University, and Giada wanted to show her daughter that entering a new chapter of life doesn’t mean people should stop challenging themselves. She hoped her own experience would demonstrate that it is never too late to face a fear or discover something new.
Jade’s reaction to her mother’s ballroom journey ultimately became one of Giada’s most treasured memories. While watching her mother’s first tango from New York, Jade cheered throughout the routine and became emotional as she talked about how proud she was of her.
After her elimination, Giada revealed just how much those moments meant to her. Watching Jade watch her dance—and receiving daily messages of encouragement from her daughter—was, Giada said, effectively her Mirrorball trophy.
She also had an emotional message for Alan. Despite the difficult rehearsals and occasional frustration between them, Giada described him as a loving and patient partner who helped her become more determined. After the elimination, Alan reassured her that she had made him proud.
So while Giada’s Dancing With the Stars journey lasted only two weeks, she doesn’t appear to view it as a failure. She entered the ballroom frightened and far outside the world where audiences normally see her, challenged herself in front of millions of viewers, and walked away feeling closer to her daughter. For Giada, that experience became something she valued more than winning the Mirrorball.
