The ‘Alix Earle effect’ once meant selling out beauty products with a single TikTok. Now it’s taking on new meaning as she traded GRWM videos for the glittering ballroom of Dancing with the Stars — and didn’t disappoint.
To really appreciate the weight of that moment, we should take a step back and look at how far she’s come in such a short time.
The Rise of Alix Earle
Alix began posting content to TikTok. At first, her posts weren’t particularly different from thousands of other creators experimenting with the platform: outfit inspo, makeup routines, daily updates from college life at the University of Miami.
What set her apart, though, wasn’t polish — it was honesty. In 2022, Alix posted a video showing the reality of her struggles with acne, including painful cysts. Instead of carefully curating an image of perfection, she leaned into vulnerability. Overnight, Alix’s audience began to grow.
She leaned into the format that made her stand out: the “Get Ready With Me” (GRWM) video. In these casual, chatty clips, she’d sit down to do her makeup while talking candidly about everything from relationships to insecurities to wild stories from college life. Fans began to feel like they were FaceTiming a best friend.
By the time she graduated in 2023 with a marketing degree, Alix had gone from student to social media powerhouse, amassing millions of followers and a brand so strong that products she mentioned often sold out within hours — the ‘Alix Earle effect’ in action
From TikTok, she expanded her presence with the launch of her podcast, “Hot Mess with Alix Earle,” under Alex Cooper’s Unwell Network. Once again, her willingness to be open and relatable — this time through long-form storytelling — made the show a hit. She also stepped into the fashion spotlight, landing features like a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit digital cover, proving she could move seamlessly from influencer culture into more traditional media spaces.
So when Dancing with the Stars announced Alix as part of the Season 34 cast, fans didn’t feel surprised The girl who started out filming GRWMs in her dorm room had become a household name. But could she dance?
The Big Ballroom Debut
On week two, Alix hit the ballroom floor with her professional partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, performing the jive. It was a bold choice for a first dance — the jive is fast, bouncy, and notoriously difficult for newcomers. But Alix has never been one to shy away from a challenge.
The crowd was packed with supporters, including two of the most important people in her life: her mom and her best friend, Jake Shane. If you’re not already familiar, Jake is no stranger to internet fame himself. He’s built a massive following as an influencer, known for his humor and larger-than-life personality. Seeing him in the audience with Alix’s mom underscored the star power around her debut.
When the music kicked in, Alix and Val dove headfirst into the routine. There were high kicks, spins, and the kind of precise footwork that trips up even experienced contestants. While she may not have shown the most technical polish of the night, Alix brought something harder to teach: charisma. She hit every beat with energy and confidence, qualities that lit up the live crowd and reached viewers at home.
Judges’ Reactions
After the applause died down, it was time for the judges to weigh in.
- Derek Hough acknowledged the difficulty of starting off with the jive, calling it a “difficult routine,” but also praised Alix as “an amazing performer with lots of potential.” Coming from one of the show’s most respected judges and professional dancers, that’s a promising sign.
- Bruno Tonioli kept it short, declaring, “Breakthrough, my love!”. His one-liner captured the moment: Alix had broken through from influencer culture to primetime TV
- Carrie Ann Inaba rounded out the feedback with encouragement, noting that while there’s room for growth, Alix’s natural performance quality will serve her well as the competition heats up.
The scores totaled to 7s across the board giving her a total of 21 out of 30.
Why It Matters
For longtime fans, seeing Alix on DWTS feels like a full-circle moment. The traits that made her a TikTok star — relatability, charisma, authenticity — are now tested on a bigger stage. Live TV is far from a phone camera, but Alix proved she could deliver the same energy.
Her debut also signals something larger about the influencer-to-mainstream pipeline. Social media stars no longer stay confined to the digital world; they’re crossing over into television, film, and beyond. With Alix, the leap feels natural. She built her brand on being unfiltered and fearless, and those qualities carry seamlessly into the unpredictability of live performance.
And then there’s the added dynamic of her support system. Jake Shane’s presence in the crowd highlighted how interconnected today’s digital culture is. The audience wasn’t just watching Alix but witnessing two internet powerhouses in a space once dominated by traditional celebrities.
What’s Next for Alix on DWTS
The first performance is just the beginning. If history is any indicator, Alix has what it takes to go far in the competition. Her willingness to put herself out there, combined with her natural stage presence, will only grow as she tackles new styles of dance in the coming weeks. And let’s be honest: Val is one of the best partners anyone could ask for.
Whether she walks away with the mirrorball trophy or not, Alix has already achieved something major. She’s bridged the gap between being “just” a TikTok star and being a legitimate performer on one of the most-watched reality shows in America. That’s not just a breakthrough — it’s a transformation.
From sharing acne struggles on TikTok to shining under the ballroom spotlight, Alix Earle has proven she’s more than a viral moment. Her DWTS journey is just the latest step in a career that keeps gaining momentum
