Peta Murgatroyd, 30, not only managed to win season 22 of Dancing With the Stars last May, but she impressively managed to do so while in the first trimester of her very first pregnancy — morning sickness and exhaustion in all! Dishing about the tough parts of being secretly pregnant while filming the show, Peta revealed that not only did she take many impromptu naps, but she also had to run to the bathroom every hour!
“I was pregnant for eight weeks out of the 10 weeks [of filming] — it was really challenging,” Peta revealed to HollywoodLife.com EXCLUSIVELY during our podcast interview with her. “I would walk into the dance studio and have these hot flashes and tell them to open up all the doors and windows because I was sweating.” Peta added that since her pregnancy with fiancé Maksim Chmerkovskiy‘s, 36, was a total accident, she wasn’t prepared to be expecting a child while going through grueling rehearsals and filming sessions.
“It obviously wasn’t the most viable thing to deal with when you’re on the show,” Peta explained. “I was taking toilet breaks literally every hour. The exhaustion of the whole thing was incredible, I would take naps in between dancing rehearsals!” But apparently the blonde beauty did a fantastic job of hiding it because even her dance partner, Nyle DiMarco, 27, had no idea until the semifinals!
Peta Murgatroyd: See Pics Of The Dancer With Her Fiancé Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Peta herself didn’t even realize that she was pregnant until week three or four of filming the DWTS season. “I thought I was really getting sick or something, and then it hit me and I realized,” she said. But just how did Peta survive an intense season of Dancing? Apparently it was “really challenging” — especially without any caffeine!
“I would take naps, Maks would bring my food, and then I would be nauseous trying not to throw up during Nyle’s dance,” she dished. “My eyes would literally be closing and Nyle would ask if I was ok and if I wanted to lay down.” We can only imagine how tiring it all must have been!
Costumes also became a problem once her body began to physically change. “I had to try and squeeze into my dresses and I was getting bigger by the minute,” the dancer said. “The water weight came immediately… I had to lower all my hemlines and wear more conservative outfits, not what people usually wear on the show. I was getting self-conscious about it so I lowered everything because my boobs were getting so big.”
At the three-month mark, Peta and Maksim officially announced their happy news! And while the star is totally focused on motherhood right now, she’s still looking forward to getting back on the stage/screen. “I want to act,” Peta revealed. “I want to get into TV, I would love to do Chicago on Broadway — there are things that I want to accomplish.”
Peta and Maks are expecting their little boy in early January, and we couldn’t be more thrilled for the dancing duo! And while they have yet to announce the baby’s name, Peta did tell us that it’s “short.” Aw — we can’t wait to find out more!
And there’s no doubt pregnancy looks fantastic on Peta — I mean, look at that glow! It’s no wonder the performer has a new self-tanning beauty and skincare line! The amazing collection, called “Peta Jane,” includes two products that are designed to be used every day — whether you’re headed to the beach, office, or the ballroom! Peta’s line includes bronzing oil and tanning mist, which provides an instant tan look that impressively lasts for seven-10 days!
For this project, Peta teamed up with South Seas, one of the most favored beauty skin care/tanning lines and highly recommended by the Dancing with the Stars cast and celebrities. Peta worked hand-in-hand with South Seas’ Julie Nostrand to perfect products that provide an amazing, healthy, bronzed glow and flawless-looking skin.
Tell us, HollywoodLifers — are you shocked Peta was able to hide her pregnancy for so long while dancing on TV?