By Whitney Baker Johnson and Sarah Ribeiro
Brooke Burke-Charvet is a star in so many ways: actress, model, Dancing With the Stars (DWTS) winner and now co-host. Given her past dancing record (she won season 7), it’s no surprise that DWTS is something she holds near and dear to her heart.
“I loved the experience of learning how to dance. It was an incredible life lesson. Hosting the show and being such a big part of the DWTS family does make me want to dance again, but I doubt that I’d be able to pull off dancing and hosting at the same time!”
As for the current season, the co-host thinks it will be full of surprises until the finale (which airs tonight). “Every couple brings something different to the ballroom,” she shares. “I love how unpredictable and evenly-matched it is this year. On some nights, when I think a certain couple will shine, another couple surprises me. That’s the beauty of the show. At this point, I have no idea who will take home the coveted mirror ball trophy. Even if I had a favorite, I wouldn’t tell you anyways!”
Related Link: Brooke Burke-Charvet Shares Love Life Secrets
But despite keeping her favorite couple to herself and juggling multiple activities and roles, the most important role seems to be that of being a good mom to her children and wife to husband David Charvet. “We [David] and I try to get out once a week, just the two of us. Our golden rule is that we can talk about anything but the kids. We do a lot of double dates, and we love the local hot spot in Malibu, Nobu, which is only five minutes away from our house. A really important part of our relationship is to carve out that time just for us.”
In addition to balancing her personal life with her hectic schedule, Burke-Charvet has another challenge and it happens during allergy season. Each spring, she’s faced with excessive sneezing, runny nose and itchy, watery eyes. This is not something that fares well in her busy career. Knowing that she isn’t alone when it comes to seasonal allergies, Brooke is partnering with Claritin on the Claritin Clear Challenge to get the message out to others who are going through this. Claritin keeps her healthy while she carries on with her busy life at home and in the spotlight.
“My allergy symptoms slow me down as a mom,” she reveals. “And it can also be really embarrassing when you’re on television. Claritin really works for me, so I teamed up with them to take their Claritin Clear Challenge and share my story.”
Related Link: With Claritin, The Difference Is Clear
Of course, Burke-Charvet has faced worse health problems than allergies. Last year, she announced that she had thyroid cancer and underwent preventative surgery. Even so, just like her allergies, she didn’t let her diagnosis get in the way of living a normal life. “All of it was hard, but as a public figure, I have a responsibility to share personal things when I think other people can grow from them,” she explains. “I was astonished to learn how many women have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer and have had thyroidectomies. I hope sharing my story was comforting for those people.”
It wasn’t a one-way street though. “I certainly learned a lot from the exchange on social media. The outpour of love, support and prayers from everyone around the country really helped me manage my own fears, and I’m happy that I was able to control the story and share it. We all learned from one another – that’s why I’m so open and vocal on social media.”
It’s no wonder this strong, courageous and likable woman won DWTS!
Be sure to watch Dancing With the Stars on ABC tonight at 8/7c to see who wins – and to see how Claritin helps Burke-Charvet stay allergy-free.
For more information about Burke-Charvet, follow her on Twitter or check out her Web site, Modern Mom.
