Hilaria Baldwin, once known as Hillary Hayward-Thomas from her Boston roots, has long been a fixture in the public eye as the wife of actor Alec Baldwin. The couple married in 2012 after meeting at a restaurant in New York, and since then, she's built a career as a yoga instructor and wellness advocate. But lately, it's her turn on Dancing with the Stars that's drawing the most attention, pulling the entire Baldwin clan into the spotlight once more.
Indeed, Hilaria and Alec share seven young children, a bustling brood that includes daughters Carmen, now 11, and Lucia, 3, along with sons Rafael, 9, Leonardo, 8, Romeo, 6, Eduardo, 4, and the youngest, Ilaria, just 1. Alec also has an adult daughter, Ireland, 29, from his previous marriage, who recently voiced public support for her stepmother amid the show's pressures. The family recently faced a poignant loss, saying goodbye to their beloved Maltese dog, which Hilaria shared emotionally on social media just as rehearsals intensified. Moreover, moving the whole family to Los Angeles for the competition was a last-minute scramble, Hilaria admitted, highlighting the chaos of balancing motherhood with the spotlight.
On the dance floor, Hilaria's debut in season 34 back in September featured a steamy cha-cha that had Alec watching stone-faced from the audience, his reactions sparking online chatter. She called the experience a dream, yet uncomfortable at times, pushing her to embrace vulnerability. However, Alec missed the second week due to work travel, leaving Hilaria to explain his absence amid whispers of tension. Last Tuesday's samba performance to a viral tune brought all seven kids to cheer her on, their near-tears when elimination loomed underscoring the emotional stakes. Fans erupted in outrage when she was saved from going home, while a more favored contestant was cut, fueling debates about the show's fairness.
Through it all, Alec reportedly encouraged her participation, even as reports painted him as a bit of a "nightmare" on set during early episodes. The Baldwins' life, blending Hollywood glamour with everyday family strains, keeps evolving. One wonders how long Hilaria can keep spinning under such intense scrutiny.