Dance Show Challenges Couples, Says Alexa PenaVega

Alexa PenaVega has opened up about the challenges married couples face when competing on "Dancing With the Stars. " While it might look like fun and games, it can actually put a strain on relationships. The actress, who competed on the show with her husband Carlos back in 2015, says the show's environment can be "incredibly flirty. " Alexa and Carlos had to set clear boundaries to keep their marriage strong during the competition. The couple, married since 2014, found themselves dealing with jealousy and insecurities for the first time. They were both learning to navigate their new marriage and the intense dynamics of the show. Alexa recalls that even though Carlos understood the show's nature, it was still hard for him to see her dance closely with other men. The constant closeness and flirtatious atmosphere backstage added to the tension.Alexa also mentioned that their strict boundaries didn't make things easy for their dance partners, Mark Ballas and Witney Carson. The situation even led to some producers trying to paint Alexa as someone who didn't care about the competition. For instance, guest judge Alfonso Ribeiro once told Alexa that she needed to focus more on the show and her partner Mark. However, Alexa made it clear that her marriage came first. She formed a good partnership with Mark, setting firm boundaries and establishing that they were there to dance, not to flirt.