Carrie Ann Inaba Reacts to Claims She is More Critical of DWTS’ Women

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Carrie Ann Inaba isn’t waltzing away from this criticism. 

The judge from Dancing With the Stars responded to criticism that she’s tougher on the female contestants. She believes this isn’t a negative, and may actually be a good thing.

Carrie Ann acknowledged some truth to the statement in a recent interview with Variety published November 11th. She explained that, as a woman on the judging panel, she brings a unique perspective and can offer more nuanced observations about the performances.

The 57-year-old explained that she gives harsh criticism not to hurt the contestants’ feelings, but to help them improve and be their best.

I always want to support women, so I share my honest feedback with them, especially because I know how much effort they’re putting in. I feel it’s my role to encourage them to give their best, and I don’t want anyone to look back with regrets.

Even so, Carrie Ann—along with fellow judges Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough—doesn’t think she’s always right with her feedback.

I know I’m not always right, but I’m willing to talk to people anyway, to help them learn and improve. When I’m speaking to another woman, I tend to be very direct, because I think women are often stronger and more resilient than men.

Carrie Ann, who has faced criticism from the audience regarding her scores on the show, is deeply affected by the negative feedback. She’s admitted that the harsh comments sometimes impact her mental well-being.

Carrie Ann explained that harsh comments have really bothered her. “It’s made me feel scared,” she said. “It’s not necessarily the words themselves that hurt, but the feeling of being verbally attacked, and it makes me withdraw during the show.”

I’ve been watching this show since it started back in 2005, and honestly, it’s amazing how the host has learned to just ignore all the negativity and focus on doing their thing. They’ve really developed a thick skin over the years!

She pointed out that if you’re genuine and stay true to who you are, other people’s opinions matter less.

Want to know more about Dancing With the Stars? Give these facts about the show a twirl…

In 2019, Variety reported that contestants on Dancing With the Stars initially earn $125,000 for rehearsals and the first two weeks of the show, with payouts increasing weekly for those who continue. Sources indicated a maximum potential earning of $295,000.

However, Bobby Bones, who won season 27 with Sharna Burgess in 2018, claimed he earned significantly more.

On Jason Tartick’s Trading Secrets podcast in September 2025, Bones revealed the payment structure: no money for the first episode, $10,000 for the second, and increasing amounts – $10,000, $10,000, $20,000, $20,000 – potentially reaching $50,000 per episode if a contestant lasts. Combined with a base salary of around $110,000, Bones said he ultimately made nearly $400,000 from the show.

ABC has not officially confirmed these figures.

Details about professional dancers’ earnings aren’t widely available, but like the contestants, they generally earn more the further they progress in the competition. Even if a pro is eliminated early, they still receive payment. Jenna Johnson explained on the June 2025 episode of The Morning After podcast with Kelly Stafford and Hank Winchester that dancers are guaranteed pay for a certain number of weeks, though contracts vary. She noted she can’t speak for all the pros.

It seems professional dancers on Dancing with the Stars don’t earn extra money for winning the show. While they receive a bonus and are paid for the entire season if they reach the finale, the prize is mostly symbolic. According to pro dancer Cheryl Burke, winning the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy doesn’t come with a large cash prize to split with their celebrity partner – it’s more about the honor of winning. She shared this information on the The Morning After podcast, clarifying that it’s not like winning a million dollars.

That doesn’t seem to be true. Dancer Lindsay Arnold shared on the podcast Trading Secrets in 2022 that her pay was reduced by more than half when she moved from a main professional dancer to a troupe member.

Professional dancers have very little say in who they’re paired with on shows like Dancing With the Stars. Lindsay explained on the Hot Smart Rich podcast that pairings are simply assigned – you’re told who your partner is and expected to make it work. Jenna added on The Morning After that the pairings are usually kept secret until the last minute to capture a genuine reaction. The show aims for surprise, and dancers don’t even know the full cast list beforehand, despite leaks. Former showrunner Rob Wade told TopMob News that height, body type, personality, and compatibility are considered when making matches. The goal is to avoid pairing people who won’t get along, as the experience is too intense for everyone involved – the celebrity, the show’s team, and the viewers. They’ve learned from past mistakes where incompatible pairings created a miserable experience.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m always fascinated by the dedication behind the glamour, and Dancing with the Stars is no exception! I recently learned from Rylee Arnold, who was on season 33, just how intense it is. She shared that they rehearse for four hours a day – either 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., or 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.! But honestly, the rehearsal itself is just the beginning. She’s often meeting with producers, working on choreography, or analyzing dance footage. She says it truly consumes her life, but she loves it, and that’s what makes it all worthwhile. It’s a demanding schedule – they perform on Tuesdays, then it’s straight back to rehearsals Wednesday through Sunday. Monday is for camera blocking, and then the cycle starts all over again on Tuesday! It’s a no-days-off kind of job, but when you’re passionate about something, that dedication feels different, doesn’t it?

Emma Slater and Britt Stewart confirmed in a September 2025 Instagram video that they’re mostly on board, but it’s a project they’re working on together with the show’s producers.

If you think the quickstep dance is fast-paced, you should see how quickly the costume department works! Costume designer Daniela Gschwendtner explained to TV Insider that they collaborate with set, lighting, and dance teams to develop a unique story for each dancer’s outfit. Then, they have just five days – often only half a day per costume, before adding rhinestones – to create everything. With a team of around 20 people plus an outside tailor shop, it’s a huge operation.

Costume designer Steven Norman Lee revealed that dancers usually don’t even try on their costumes until shortly before the show begins. While they might occasionally re-use pants for the male dancers, most costumes are custom-made each week.

Gschwendtner added that they do re-use items for group performances or promotional shoots, but never for the competition itself. They aim to keep the looks fresh and new each week to maintain excitement and visual interest.

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2025-11-12 00:17