Giada De Laurentiis reveals her daughter Jade inspired her to accept the challenge of joining Dancing with the Stars Season 35.
Giada De Laurentiis is stepping away from the kitchen and into a completely different challenge — the ballroom floor. The celebrity chef has revealed that her daughter, Jade, played a major role in convincing her to join Dancing with the Stars Season 35, encouraging her mother to embrace a new chapter in life.
The Food Network personality, 56, was announced as one of the contestants for the upcoming season of the hit dance competition on Sept. 2. While fans may know De Laurentiis for her culinary skills, she admitted that accepting the opportunity required her to leave behind her comfort zone and try something she had never done before.
According to De Laurentiis, the timing felt meaningful because her 18-year-old daughter recently began college, marking a major transition for both of them.
Giada De Laurentiis Says Daughter Jade Encouraged Her New Journey
De Laurentiis told PEOPLE that she had been approached about joining Dancing with the Stars several times over the years but never felt ready to take the leap.
This time, however, things were different.
“I’ve been asked several times over the years, and I think that this time I said yes because my daughter basically forced me to say yes,” De Laurentiis explained.
The chef shared that dropping Jade off at college made her realize she also needed to experience personal growth and explore something outside her usual routine.
“The way that she is going on a new journey, it’s time for mom to also do the same,” she said.
Jade recently started her freshman year at New York University, and De Laurentiis hopes her daughter will be able to attend some of the live shows if she continues advancing through the competition.
“I hope so if I last,” she said, adding that Jade’s location in New York could make it possible for her to visit.
From Cooking Expertise to Ballroom Training
Although De Laurentiis is accustomed to working under pressure in professional kitchens, she admitted that ballroom dancing has presented a completely different physical and mental challenge.
The celebrity chef said one of the biggest surprises has been discovering muscles she did not even know existed.
“Who knew that my quad muscles were so weak?” she joked while discussing the intensity of rehearsals.
After her first day of training, she described struggling physically enough that even a security guard noticed she was having difficulty walking down the stairs.
The experience has forced De Laurentiis to adjust to a new type of discipline. Instead of creating recipes or managing a kitchen environment, she is now learning complex dance routines that require coordination, memory and stamina.
For someone who is used to constantly staying busy, the mental side of the competition has been equally demanding.
Learning Dance Has Been a Mental Challenge Too
De Laurentiis said she expected the physical exhaustion but was surprised by how much energy it takes to learn something completely unfamiliar.
She explained that mastering choreography requires intense focus and leaves her mentally drained after rehearsals.
The chef admitted that she often returns home wanting to simply relax because her brain feels overwhelmed after spending hours learning new movements.
That adjustment has been unusual for De Laurentiis, who described herself as someone who is normally always moving and working.
The transition from television cooking shows to a dance competition has pushed her in ways she did not anticipate.
Advice From Friends Who Have Competed Before
Before joining Dancing with the Stars, De Laurentiis watched previous seasons of the show and saw firsthand how demanding the experience could be.
She specifically mentioned her friend Maria Menounos, who competed on Season 14, as someone whose journey helped her understand the commitment required.
De Laurentiis said many friends who have appeared on the show shared similar advice: the competition is unforgettable, but it requires serious physical effort.
Menounos also encouraged her to continue practicing outside official rehearsal sessions.
De Laurentiis said she quickly learned that success would depend not only on scheduled training but also on the extra effort she puts in between rehearsals.
Giada De Laurentiis Announces DWTS Partnership With Alan Bersten
The chef officially confirmed her participation through an Instagram post after the Season 35 cast announcement.
Sharing a photo with her professional dance partner Alan Bersten, De Laurentiis wrote that the rumors were true and expressed excitement about joining the competition.
Her announcement quickly received support from fellow figures in the food and entertainment industries.
Ree Drummond, known as The Pioneer Woman, celebrated the news with an enthusiastic message, while Katie Lee Biegel also shared encouragement for De Laurentiis.
The support shows that many fans are eager to see the culinary star take on a completely different role.
Jade’s Approval Was the First Step
Before fully committing to the competition, De Laurentiis wanted the approval of the most important person in her life — her daughter.
She shared a playful video showing Jade meeting professional dancer Alan Bersten and joked that getting her daughter’s approval was her “first order of business.”
The moment reflected the close relationship between mother and daughter, especially during a major period of change for their family.
Jade’s move to college has been an emotional milestone for De Laurentiis, who previously opened up about the complicated feelings that come with watching a child leave home.
A New Chapter After Daughter’s College Transition
Before Jade left for New York University, De Laurentiis shared an emotional social media tribute celebrating the next stage of her daughter’s life.
The post included images from Jade’s college dorm and a family photo featuring De Laurentiis, her boyfriend Shane Farley and her former husband Todd Thompson.
She captioned the post, “It takes a village,” reflecting on the support system that helped raise her daughter.
Earlier, De Laurentiis admitted that becoming the parent of a college student brought a mixture of excitement and sadness.
She explained that while children may return for holidays, leaving home represents a major shift in the parent-child relationship.
Since Jade is her only child, De Laurentiis described the moment as especially emotional because she is experiencing this transition for the first time and the last time.
Giada De Laurentiis Embraces Change With Dancing with the Stars
For De Laurentiis, joining Dancing with the Stars represents more than just a television appearance. It marks a personal challenge and a chance to follow the example set by her daughter.
As Jade begins her own independent journey at college, De Laurentiis is choosing to explore a new path of her own.
The ballroom competition will test her physically, mentally and emotionally, but the chef appears ready to embrace the experience.
Whether she wins the mirrorball trophy or simply completes the journey, De Laurentiis says stepping outside her comfort zone is already a meaningful achievement.
